Coco Gauff’s coach Brad Gilbert took a dim view of Daniil Medvedev’s double bounce controversy at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, advocating for umpires to have monitors in place to review such incidents. Gilbert also reiterated the need for electronic line calling.
Medvedev’s blockbuster semifinal clash against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at the grasscourt Major turned contentious early in the match, when the umpire called a double bounce on the Russian’s shot at a crucial point in the opening set.Incensed over the call, the World No. 5 had a heated outburst, seemingly directing an expletive-laced attack at the umpire. However, the 28-year-old later clarified that he was speaking in Russian and that his remarks hadn’t crossed the line.
During Daniil Medvedev’s contentious confrontation with the chair umpire, Brad Gilbert shared his opinion on social media, arguing that umpires should have access to monitors on court to make accurate calls in instances of double bounces.Gilbert also urged Wimbledon to follow the Australian Open and the US Open’s lead by implementing electronic line calling at next year’s edition of the grasscourt Major.
“As I am watching Escape from Alcaraz vs Meddy Bear 🐻 I really hope in 2025 championships we go to electronic line calling, like we do @AustralianOpen @usopen also absolutely 💯 no reason why umpires don’t have monitors on court for incidentals like the double bounces etc,” he posted on X.
Brad Gilbert’s remarks come as no surprise, as he previously advocated for “incidental challenges” after Coco Gauff got into an argument with the umpire over a controversial line call at the 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships.Similarly, Gilbert has also consistently spoken out in favor of electronic line calling, reiterating the need for the same after Jannik Sinner was hard done by a crucial line call during his semifinal clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas at this year’s Monte-Carlo Masters.
“I don’t know why we don’t use the challenge system for the double bounce” – Daniil Medvedev after Wimbledon SF loss
Although Daniil Medvedev clinched the first set in the tiebreak after the contentious dispute, Alcaraz battled back to secure a 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win and book his place in his second consecutive Wimbledon final.
The Russian echoed Brad Gilbert’s suggestions in his post-match press conference, emphasizing that such incidents could be avoided if the challenge system was used to check double bounces.
“The thing is I think it would be so much easier with the challenge system. Because the challenge system shows the bounce. If there was a bounce it would show it. And then if we use it, we would never have this situation. I don’t know why we don’t use the challenge system for the double bounce,” Daniil Medvedev said.
Following his win over Medvedev, Alcaraz will take on Novak Djokovic in a rematch of last year’s final at the grasscourt Major. Djokovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-4 to book his place against the Spaniard.
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