Another mad women's draw (like wimby last year). Some good matches tomorrow- but I wouldn't like to call it. I'd kinda like it to be one of the young un's or Stosur. Not a Shreakapova fan at all.

Hantuchova served and Kerber returned right to the baseline. Hantuchova a bit cramped up sort of half volley shoved the ball back over the net.

Seemingly just after Hantuchova hit the ball ( though the timing is immaterial to the shocking events that followed ), the ball was called out, Hantuchova clearly lost interest in the point and Kerber just stopped the point as the ball landed in the middle of court on her side. All fair enough.

The umpire then got down and checked for the mark and declared that the Kerber return was in. Gaskets ( or whatever it is there on TV ) showed the ball to have just clipped the line. They don't actually use that technology officially, but it kind of verified the umpire. Still all good.

So let then, replay the point ?

Well no, the point was awarded to Kerber ! Hantuchova unsurprisingly then went to argue the point, mildly ( for that is her ), but very very persistently and was not for moving on and kept insisting rightly that she hit the ball back in and Kerber stopped the point.

The referree was called for and I didn't hear the umpire's story, but she backed the umpire up with Hantuchova still insisting 'but I hit it back in !'

Most of this time Kerber kept herself to herself, though was called to the proceedings by Hantuchova, no doubt to verify the happenings. I don't know what Kerber said, seemingly not a lot and nothing that changed the point going to her and a very disgruntled Hantuchova having to play on, whilst knowing she had just been robbed in broad daylight ( in post match interview Kerber said that she really didn't know what had happened and was leaving them to get on with it and focussing on the next point - I say bollocks, she must have known full well that the ball came back over the net in a legal manner.

Absolute disgrace on various levels !

Coup Droit wrote:

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So I inadvertently put the kiss of death on Ivanovic (sorry Ana!) so will now hope I can do the same by going for Kerber.

The woman has never been a 'fave' (far from it) but her part in the controversy over the line-call today with Hantuchova was disgraceful. Although not as bad as the umpire's of course, as it's her job to get it right. And the referee hardly helped either. But Angelique should be take a long look in the mirror. And the umpire should be diplomatically removed from this year's RG and sent on a refresher course (at best!).

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I second that, it was the most appalling lack of sportsmanship.

Turn the clock back to R2 of Wimbledon in 2004, Karolina Sprem v Venus Williams. Sprem serves a fault at 1-2 in the 2nd set tie-break and Williams just bunts the ball out. The umpire awards the point to Sprem, who says nothing, and goes on to win the match 7-6 7-6.

Sprem made the quarters at Wimbledon, and soon after reached a career-high ranking of 17. But from about August 2004 things went into free-fall and she hardly won another match at the top level. Instant Karma?

She's doing her best for you, CD - just won the first set 6-1.

Genie was devastating. 16 winners to 4 UEs in that 1st set.

Wish I'd said it last night - but Genie for champ!

Kerber will regret her decision too. Things like that are never forgotten, and she will find that crowds will now ALWAYS support her opponent.