Iga Swiatek found herself in a tough spot early in her highly anticipated French Open showdown with Aryna Sabalenka, going down an early double break. The world No. 1 led 4-1 and was serving to take a 5-1 lead when both players were suddenly left baffled when the umpire stepped in.
Sabalenka fired down what she thought was an ace to hold serve and celebrated as well-known official Kader Nouni announced that it was a let, and that Sabalenka had a second serve. The top seed approached his chair as Swiatek stared over the net in bewilderment.
“Oh wow, that’s a late let,” American tennis icon Lindsay Davenport said on TNT Sports commentary as both players looked perplexed.
“I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on apart from the umpire,” Naomi Cavaday added, as Davenport branded the whole situation “strange”.
Nouni confirmed to Sabalenka that her serve had been called as a let, meaning she didn’t win the point and had to serve again. “I said it after. I said late, but I said it. I said it though,” he said.
Again, Davenport said the call came “very late” and Cavaday replied: “Sabalenka’s not buying it.”
But the three-time Major winner conceded and walked back to the baseline to serve again. And the interruption proved very costly as Swiatek won the next point, putting pressure on Sabalenka.
Former world No. 1 Davenport added: “What a potential swing. An ace to go up 5-1 to all of a sudden a late let call and now at deuce here.”
The tide continued to turn, and after a lengthy game, Swiatek went on to break, closing the gap with the top seed.
Sabalenka quickly fell away and lost three games in a row to level things at 4-4, allowing the reigning champion to get back into the set.
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