US Open stars call for VAR on match point with title on the line
Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok called for a video review while serving for the US Open title.
There was drama in the women's doubles final at the US Open as one of the championship points went down to a video review.
Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok were looking to get the job done on their third match point when the umpire called a foul shot on Kichenok's volley, claiming she hit the ball in two motions.
The Latvian-Ukrainian duo immediately called for VAR but were disappointed with the outcome.
Related articles
Ostapenko and Kichenok faced Kristina Mladenovic and Zhang Shaui with the US Open title on the line. They raced through, taking a 6-4 5-3 lead to allow Ostapenko to serve for the championship.
The former French Open singles champion found the perfect time for her first ace, setting up two match points. But she blew both of them and it went to deuce. Another ace gave them a third chance to pounce and they appeared to get the job done when Kichenok hit a winner at the net.
But the chair umpire immediately announced that it was a foul shot as soon as the ball left her racket. Ostapenko stormed to the net to join her partner, claiming it was one swift movement and calling for a video review.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
But the call didn't go their way - video replays from different angles confirmed that there were two motions from the Ukrainian doubles star's racket before she hit the ball and it was back to deuce. Ostapenko and Kichenok didn't have to wait too much longer though, they got the job done at the fourth time of asking.
It's their first Grand Slam doubles title together. Ostapenko won the singles title at Roland Garros seven years ago while Kichenok won mixed doubles at Wimbledon last year alongside Mate Pavic.
After the match, Tim Henman and Laura Robson explained how significant it was to have video replay technology available in Flushing Meadows. "I think we should have a little chat about that match point that was saved with the video replay because it was great to see that type of technology in play," Henman said after the No. 7 seeds won the title
Don't miss...
Andy Murray enters tournament weeks after he retired at Paris Olympics [UPDATE]
Aryna Sabalenka faces repeat of US Open nightmare that haunted her for months [PREVIEW]
Paralympics tennis ace sobs after fumbling gold with first major loss since 2020 [REACTION]
As cameras cut to replay of the third championship point, he continued: "So this is a fast return, eventually an interception volley. And that’s where you can hit the ball twice but it has to be one motion."
Robson replied: "Well you’ve got to see this kind of shot from the side. From the front angle it’s quite hard to see if it’s one or two motions." And Henman added: "But with the video replay it shows it so clearly."
