A long-standing umpire made a costly mistake at the Shanghai Masters.
Nick Kyrgios has called for an umpire to be fired after making a huge error at an important moment during one of Monday’s Shanghai Masters matches.
Experienced chair official Carlos Bernardes called the wrong score during Stan Wawrinka and Flavio Cobolli’s second-round clash.
Neither player realised the umpire’s mistake and Cobolli went on to get the only break of the match in that game.
It was a battle of the generations as 39-year-old Wawrinka took on 22-year-old Cobolli, who is making his debut in Shanghai this week. They split the first two sets in tiebreaks before heading into a decider.
With Wawrinka serving in the second game of the third set, he won the first point before Bernardes radioed to request electrolytes for Cobolli. It seemed to throw him off.
Cobolli won the next point to get to 15-15 but the umpire called the score 0-30, putting the Italian up on Wawrinka’s serve. Play continued as neither player noticed his error.
In one of the more controversial moments of the 2024 Shanghai Masters, veteran chair umpire Carlos Bernardes made a significant error during a second-round match between tennis great Stan Wawrinka and the up-and-coming Italian, Flavio Cobolli. The mistake, which involved Bernardes calling the wrong score during a crucial part of the match, has since garnered widespread attention, with some, including tennis star Nick Kyrgios, calling for Bernardes’ dismissal.
The incident occurred during a highly anticipated battle between 39-year-old Wawrinka and 22-year-old Cobolli, two players at opposite ends of their tennis careers. Cobolli, making his debut at the Shanghai Masters, was seeking a breakthrough win against a seasoned player like Wawrinka, who is known for his three Grand Slam titles and years of dominance on the ATP Tour.
The match itself was a thrilling contest, as the players pushed each other to the limit. They split the first two sets in dramatic fashion, both going to tiebreaks, with neither player giving an inch. Fans were treated to a display of raw power and finesse as Wawrinka’s experience clashed with Cobolli’s youthful energy.
However, the controversy unfolded early in the third and deciding set. With the match finely balanced, Wawrinka was serving in the second game. After winning the first point to go up 15-0, Bernardes, acting as chair umpire, radioed a request for electrolytes for Cobolli. While this may have seemed like a minor disruption, it appeared to momentarily throw off Wawrinka’s rhythm. Cobolli capitalized on the pause, winning the next point to bring the game to 15-15.
But then, the unexpected happened. Bernardes mistakenly called the score as 0-30, giving Cobolli an unearned lead on Wawrinka’s serve. Both players, focused on the intensity of the moment, failed to notice the error. Play continued under the wrong score, and the game proceeded as if Cobolli had the upper hand, despite the reality being different.
This mistake proved to be crucial, as Cobolli went on to break Wawrinka’s serve in that game – the only break of the match. This shift in momentum gave the young Italian an advantage he might not have had otherwise, altering the dynamics of the contest.
Neither Wawrinka nor Cobolli realized the mistake until after the match, but by then, it was too late to change the outcome. Cobolli ultimately won the deciding set and, with it, the match. While it was a major victory for the 22-year-old, questions immediately arose about the integrity of the umpiring and how such a mistake could have occurred during such a high-stakes tournament.
The incident has since drawn the ire of fans and players alike. Nick Kyrgios, known for his outspoken nature, took to social media to voice his frustration, demanding that Bernardes be fired for the error. Kyrgios, who has had his own share of confrontations with tennis officials over the years, argued that such mistakes can have significant consequences, especially in a prestigious tournament like the Shanghai Masters.
Many within the tennis community have expressed disappointment in the error, noting that while umpires are human and mistakes can happen, the stakes are simply too high for such lapses in judgment during important matches. The call for better officiating standards has grown louder, with some suggesting that technology could play a bigger role in ensuring accuracy in scoring and decision-making on the court.
As for Bernardes, the veteran umpire has had a long and respected career in tennis. He has officiated countless high-profile matches, including Grand Slam finals, and is considered one of the most experienced officials in the game. However, this latest mistake has undoubtedly tarnished his reputation, leading to questions about whether his long tenure on the ATP Tour is nearing its end.
For Wawrinka, the loss was undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the error. While the Swiss star has had an illustrious career, he is nearing the twilight of his playing days, and each tournament presents fewer opportunities for glory. Losing in such a fashion, especially when an umpire’s mistake played a pivotal role, is not how a player of his caliber would want to bow out.
On the other hand, Cobolli’s victory, though somewhat tainted by the controversy, marks a significant milestone in his young career. The Italian has shown promise on the ATP Tour, and this win at the Shanghai Masters could serve as a stepping stone toward greater success in the future. Despite the circumstances, Cobolli deserves credit for his composure in a high-pressure situation and his ability to seize the opportunity presented to him.
In the aftermath of the match, discussions about umpiring standards, the use of technology in tennis, and the accountability of officials are sure to continue. The sport has made strides in recent years with the introduction of systems like Hawk-Eye, but as this incident shows, there are still areas where human error can have a profound impact on the outcome of matches.
As the tennis world moves forward from this incident, there will likely be renewed calls for improvements to officiating processes to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Whether this means increased use of technology or more stringent training for umpires remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Shanghai Masters will be remembered not just for the thrilling on-court action, but also for the costly error that marred one of its key matches.