Iga Swiatek reached the semifinals of the Australian Open for the second time in her career, defeating Emma Navarro with a score of 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals held on Wednesday at Rod Laver Arena. However, the victory was overshadowed by a significant controversy that ignited strong reactions within the tennis community, with some fans even labelling Swiatek a "cheat."

Given her previous performances in Melbourne, many observers were sceptical about Swiatek's chances of advancing to the semifinals, let alone contending for the title or securing her fifth Grand Slam victory. Nevertheless, the second seed has navigated the bottom half of the draw with ease, having not lost a single set thus far.

The Polish player found herself at the centre of a contentious incident during the quarterfinal match when she won a pivotal point following a drop shot from Navarro, despite the ball having bounced twice. This occurred in the second set, and Navarro promptly alerted the umpire after the point concluded, but the claim was dismissed. This point provided Swiatek with an advantage on her serve, and she ultimately secured the game with a backhand winner, taking a 3-2 lead.

“Honestly, I didn’t see the replay after this point, because after the point I didn’t look up to the screens because I wanted to stay focused,” Swiatek explained to reporters post-match. “I didn’t want that point to linger in my mind, but I was uncertain if it was a double bounce or if I hit it with my frame. It was difficult to determine since I was sprinting and didn’t even recall seeing the contact point. Sometimes, you don’t really pay attention when hitting the ball. So, I wasn’t sure. I thought it was the umpire’s responsibility to make the call. I didn’t see it, so I just moved on and focused on the next point.”

The incident quickly generated a heated discussion among commentators, with Sam Smith criticizing the chair umpire and questioning why Navarro did not request a review. He remarked, “You’re kidding me! And Navarro thinks the same. She believes that’s not up. But the umpire…”

Read Also: "A Hilarious Encounter: Ben Shelton Accidentally Hits Umpire During Match"

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!