Hubert Hurkacz requests umpire switch in French Open loss

PARIS – Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz made an unusual request to his opponent Grigor Dimitrov to change the chair umpire during a straight-set loss in the last 16 of the French Open on June 2.

Hurkacz approached Dimitrov at a changeover in the third set with the Bulgarian about to serve at 5-6, asking him if he wanted to replace Alison Hughes.

Seemingly unhappy over a line call, eighth seed Hurkacz had called multiple times for the supervisor before suggesting to Dimitrov they get a new umpire.

No change was made and Dimitrov held serve before winning the tiebreak to advance 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), reaching his first Roland Garros quarter-final at the 14th attempt.

Hurkacz downplayed the incident after the match, insisting it was “all good”.

“It’s clay court, so it’s sometimes difficult when the balls are really close... just it’s really close from time to time,” the world No. 8 said. “Definitely some of the calls you wish they are different way, but it’s just the way it is, and you gotta accept the things.”

Dimitrov defended Hurkacz and maintained the exchange was not a big deal.

“I think the thing is we all can say very difficult things in the heat of a moment. I’m sure whatever he said, it was not meant in a bad way,” said the 33-year-old. “Also, the umpires, they’re trying their best. It’s a tricky business out there when the ball gets so close to the line.”

Next up for Dimitrov is second seed Jannik Sinner on June 4. The Italian shook off a sluggish start and blazed into the quarter-finals on June 2 with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory over local hope Corentin Moutet.

Australian Open champion Sinner was in a spot of bother in front of partisan fans on Court Philippe-Chatrier as the off-colour 22-year-old went 5-0 down in 23 minutes, but he managed to get on the board.

“It was very tough for me. I think he played very well in the first set,” said Sinner.

“I had some chances, but he played much better than me, so I had to adjust a little bit. He had an amazing run here at Roland Garros. The atmosphere as always was amazing.

“He plays differently to most of my opponents, so it was tough for me. He is also a lefty. You don’t play so many times against left-handers, so I’m happy to be in the next round.”

Another intriguing June 4 quarter-final pits world No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz against Stefanos Tsitsipas, a two-time Major finalist.

Alcaraz boasts a 5-0 career head-to-head record over Tsitsipas with three wins on clay, with the Greek saying: “He has said in the past he likes playing against me, so I hope he gets to like it a little bit less this time.”
AFP, REUTERS