Nicolas Jarry accused Cameron Norrie of disturbing him in an angry rant during their fourth-round clash at Wimbledon. Norrie stormed into a 6-3 7-6 lead on Court 1 and then his Chilean opponent tabled his complaints with the umpire.
Norrie headed off court for a toilet break while Jarry remained seated in his courtside chair and moaned about Norrie’s second serve. He felt the Brit was bouncing the ball too many times, then looked like he was going to serve before continuing to bounce the ball.
“What is the rule there? The problem is, is it normal to do that when it affects the other player?” Jarry said to Greek umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore.
“You have to intervene there or I have to suck it. That’s the real issue, it doesn’t matter the reason. It is the same as hitting the ball anywhere.
“It’s not intentional but you have to apply the code as well. How is it now? He perfectly can stop doing it, it’s not a nervous tick.
“It’s something that he can control. It’s not a nervous tick. You think there’s nothing I can do so I just have to suck it up, because he does it always.
“That’s a reason for me to have to play with something that affects me. It can be changed, it’s not something that cannot be changed.”
Asderaki-Moore responded: “I am going to step in if I think there is a reason to step in.”
But Jarry continued his tirade: “I don’t want to force you into anything. I just want to do what the rules say. And if there is not a rule then tell me and I cannot do anything about it.”
Asderaki-Moore clarified the rule, saying: “The rule is if it’s intentional that he is disturbing then I can do something about it.”
Jarry, walking back onto court as Norrie emerged from the bathroom, concluded: “Ok so it has to be intentional, if it’s not intentional then there’s nothing I can do.
“If that’s the rule then I don’t need you to say something. I just want to play by the rules because it affects me.”