Casper Ruud comments on controversial decisive moment at Roland Garros.

The Roland Garros once again became a stage for controversy, this time involving Norwegian Casper Ruud and a decisive moment that could have altered the course of his match against Brazilian João Fonseca in the round of 16. At a crucial moment in the second set, during a tie-break at 8-7, a disputed point raised questions about the validity of the chair umpire’s judgment, in the absence of the Hawk-Eye Live technology, which has not yet been implemented in this tournament that still relies on traditional line judges.

Everything unfolded when a powerful forehand from Fonseca landed very close to the baseline, followed by a wide shot from Ruud. However, a shout of “Out” was heard from the stands, raising doubts. The umpire decided to check the impact location and, finding no space between the line and the mark left by the ball, awarded the point to the Brazilian, tying the tie-break at 8-8. Had the point been awarded to Ruud, the score would have indicated 9-7 in his favor. An analysis by the unofficial technology system of TNT Sports suggested that the ball had indeed crossed the line, which would have benefited the Norwegian.

In a press conference following the match, Casper Ruud, recognized on the circuit for his exemplary demeanor, did not hide his frustration but maintained his composure: “His forehand was very close; it could have been in or out. Obviously, it was called in. If I had won that set, maybe the score would be 1-1 instead of 0-2. We would be tied. It’s a shame, given my situation,” said the Nordic tennis player, admitting that the decision influenced the course of the match.

Despite the disappointment of being eliminated from a tournament that will crown a new Grand Slam champion, Ruud did not hold back in praising his opponent: “I expected a tough match, and it was. He doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game. He has already beaten several top players, including Novak two days ago. His tennis is really impressive,” concluded the Norwegian, acknowledging the Brazilian’s merit.

This episode underscores the limitations of traditional arbitration methods in top-level matches and reinforces the urgency of implementing Hawk-Eye Live at the French Open, to prevent controversial decisions from continuing to influence decisive outcomes in high-stakes encounters. For Ruud, there remains the bitter feeling that a questionable point may have cost him an opportunity to fight for glory in the premier clay court tournament.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.