WATCH: “Call the supervisor!” – ‘Furious’ Rafael Nadal lashes out at chair umpire after he was wrongly denied taking a challenge despite stopping the point midway himself against Alex De Minaur

Rafael Nadal had an ourburst against the umpire mid match.

WATCH: “Call the supervisor!” – ‘Furious’ Rafael Nadal lashes out at chair umpire after he was wrongly denied taking a challenge despite stopping the point midway himself against Alex De Minaur

Rafael Nadal lashed out at the chair umpire (Via IMAGO/X)

Rafael Nadal was in the midst of a heated exchange with chair umpire Fergus Murphy as he engaged in combat with Alex De Minaur. In his second-round encounter at the Madrid Open, Nadal was leading 2-0 with an early break of serve, when De Minaur got himself two break points on the Spaniard’s serve.

As Alex De Minaur led 30-15 in the game, Nadal stopped the point midway, letting the umpire know that the former’s shot was out. He proceeded to circle the mark but did not formally ask for a challenge, which led the veteran umpire to not consider Nadal’s call and the point was awarded to the Australian. This seemed to push the Spaniard to the edge, having a serious argument with the umpire and also calling for the supervisor.

https://twitter.com/edgeaiofficial/status/1784229239060844696 
Call the supervisor.
Rafael Nadal screamed

De Minaur went on to win that game and at the changeover, Nadal still seemed dissatisfied with the call as the supervisor made an effort to understand the situation. Fans are now divided and taking to social media to voice their opinions regarding who was in the wrong. Many have pointed out that it may have slipped Rafa’s mind that he had to gesture to challenge the call, to which others responded that he is experienced enough to know what he had to do in such moments.

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Rafael Nadal may have to face his toughest draw yet at the French Open

Earlier this week, Amelie Mauresmo, the tournament director for the French Open, announced that Rafael Nadal would not be getting preferential treatment at the tournament he has conquered fourteen times. Nadal will not be awarded a seeding, despite most saying he is the favourite to win the tournament even if he is just able to walk.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (via Tennis Channel)

This will mean that the King of Clay will have to play as an unseeded player, something he has never done. It also means he will have to face other players who are seeded much earlier than he is used to.

If he hopes to lift the French Open trophy one last time, he will have to be prepared to potentially face more seeded players during his run. If Nadal brings his best game, he will still be the favourite, but there are big challenges he would have to overcome, with even a first-round match against world number one Novak Djokovic also being on the cards.

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