Alize Cornet is the latest player to complain about officiating at the French Open, arguing with an umpire about a call during her 6-2, 7-6 (9) fourth-round loss to Elina Svitolina.
The dispute occured at 5-5 in the second set, following Svitolina's decision to stop a rally after a shot from Cornet had been called in. The umpire reversed the call, but Cornet disagreed, going to check the mark and saying the ball had been in.
The previous day, Victoria Azarenka complained when a point was replayed even though her opponent Serena Williams hit her shot before the original call was made. Azarenka called for video replay to prevent these mistakes.
Cornet also took up the argument again in her press conference. "It's a scandal. I don't want to go into this. I don't know how much judges can be influenced. Generally I never look and I did this time. It's a shame. It's shameful. I don't know how she could look straight in my eyes and tell me," said Cornet. "I don't know what happened yesterday between Azarenka and Serena. I really don't know. But, you know, sometimes things happen and you're like, wow. I mean, there is enough tension as it is."
However, Cornet was unsure if video replay should be introduced. "I don't know, maybe the video would have showed me that I was wrong. But I saw it. It was right there," she said. "I think sometimes it would really be worth using the video. The problem is if you use video for everything, why have umpires? Because that's their job. That's what they are there for. But I really felt the pressure. You know, she was waiting. My opponent was waiting. And I think she knew. She knew it was good. And it was so frustrating. It was so frustrating. But, you know, that's the way it is. It's part of the game."
Svitolina's opinion was similar. "I don't know if they should do Hawk-Eye," she said. "There is a mark. There is a chair umpire who decides."
Both players were in the fourth round of Roland Garros for the first time in their careers.