Novak Djokovic demands change in tennis as he wades in on debate over Jack Draper winning 'the most controversial match point ever' at the Cincinnati Open

Novak Djokovic has demanded a change in tennis after Jack Draper's last-16 victory at the Cincinnati Open was marred by controversy.

Draper came from a set down to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, but his Canadian opponent disputed what has been described as 'the most controversial match point ever'.

The British No 1 hit the ball at a low angle and it appeared to then hit the floor, which sent it bouncing high before it clipped the net and dropped over onto his opponent's side of the court.

Umpire Greg Allansworth ruled it as a fair shot and awarded the match to Draper, but his opponent described the decision as 'horrendous' and said: 'Did you not see the ball bounce on the floor?'

Tennis legend Djokovic has weighed in on the controversy describing it as 'embarrassing' and demanding that 'this nonsense never happens again'.

Novak Djokovic has demanded change after Jack Draper's controversial win at the Cincinnati Open

Draper won the 'most controversial match point ever' against Felix Auger-Aliassime

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL MATCH POINT EVER!!!

WHAT JUST HAPPENED...? 😱#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/cxU4H2A4Af — Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 17, 2024

The Canadian insisted Draper's shot touched the ground before bouncing over the net

Djokovic said that 'it's embarrassing that we don't have video replays' in these situations

Djokovic's tweet was in reply to fellow tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas saying that he has 'never seen a shot like this before'.

The Serbian replied: 'It's embarrassing that we don't have video replay of these kind of situations on the court.

'What's even more ridiculous is that we don't have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court!

'Everyone who watches TV sees what happened on the replay, yet the players on the court are kept in 'dark' not knowing what's the outcome.

'We have Hawkeye for line calls, we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please, respective Tours, make sure this nonsense never happens again!'

Nick Kyrgios also commented on the controversy on social media insisting that Draper knew 'exactly what happened'.

The lack of video review technology meant that Auger-Aliassime could not challenge the call from the umpire.

Draper, who looked somewhat surprised when the umpire called the match in his favour, immediately said: 'I would replay it. If there was a replay I would replay but I don't know.'

The match supervisor was called to address the situation as Draper questioned a replay

Auger-Aliassime had insisted the umpire would 'look ridiculous' by standing by his decision

Auger-Aliassime eventually conceded the point with the two players hugging at the net

Draper had come from a set down to win the match 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at the Cincinnati Open

Auger-Aliassime told Draper that he surely knew the ball had illegally hit the court but the Brit insisted he was not '100 per cent' sure'.

In a heated exchange with Gregory Allensworth, Auger-Aliassime warned the umpire he would look 'ridiculous' if he stood by his decision to award the point to Draper.

'You're going to get out now and then it's going to go everywhere and it's going to look ridiculous,' said Auger-Aliassime, who appeared to have been correct.

'I'm serious, it's going to look ridiculous.

'It is going to be crazy. I know it is not his [Draper's] place to make that call, it's match point for him, it's the win for him, but it's your place to make that call.

'Are you seriously not coming back on your call.'

Draper explained why he wasn't sure what had happened during his on-court interview when his win was sealed.

He said: 'I was too busy looking at him [Auger-Aliassime]. I didn't see what happened. I looked at the umpire straight away to see if he called a double bounce or not.

'As a player, I'm trying to focus on what I'm doing. I can't make that call if I'm not 100 per cent. I said, when the supervisor came on, that if it was a double bounce and that he saw it clearly then I would have 100 per cent replayed the point.'

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios were among the players to weigh in on the decision online

The controversy has renewed calls for more video replays, with American star Coco Gauff recently calling for their use after controversial decisions in her matches at the French Open and the Olympic Games.

Video replays were used at the US Open for the first time last year to check for double bounces and foul shots, with the system set to be in use again at this month's tournament.

Players will be allowed up to three incorrect challenges per set with the chair umpire able to review replays.

Draper, following the controversial conclusion to his match, will face Denmark's Holger Rune in the quarter-finals in Cincinnati.

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