"What the hell is the umpire looking at!" - Serena Williams' ex-coach infuriated by Anna Kalinskaya's "horrible" double bounce controversy at US Open

Anna Kalinskaya, Beatriz Haddad Maia (inset) | GETTY
Anna Kalinskaya, Beatriz Haddad Maia (inset) | GETTY

Anna Kalinskaya's third-round match at the 2024 US Open on Saturday, August 31, was marred with controversy after a seeming double bounce shot by Beatriz Haddad Maia was ruled in her favor. Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs was furious with the decision which had the VAR involved.

Over the past few weeks, the tennis community has lamented the lack of video replays because of several contentious decisions. Players welcomed the video replay system at the US Open but even with the use of VAR technology controversy persists.

Kalinskaya led 2-0 in the first set against Maia when the Brazilian seemed to play a shot that bounced twice before she hit it. Initially, the shot was allowed and Maia won the point but the Russian called for VAR technology.

The replays almost confirmed that Anna Kalinskaya was correct but chair umpire Miriam Bley, who used a tablet to review the action, ruled that the shot was legal. The point was awarded to Brazilian despite the World No. 15's protests.

Further, Kalinskaya lost her foothold in the match and could win only two of the next 14 games as Maia advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-1 win.

Former doubles World No. 1 Rennae Stubbs took to X to express her discontentment surrounding the decision. She felt that it was the wrong call and it was 'horrible' to not get it right with VAR technology.

"Absolutely horrible! How do u NOT get that right," Stubbs wrote in one update.

In another update, she wrote:

"How the hell do you get that wrong on Armstrong WITH VAR!!! What the hell is the umpire looking at!!!! Omggggg!!!!! Wowza! You have VAR and u still get it wrong! I’m shook!"

After beating Anna Kalinskaya, Beatriz Haddad Maia to face Caroline Wozniacki in US Open 4R

Anna Kalinskaya (L) Beatriz Haddad Maia (R) at the 2024 US Open (Image: Getty)
Anna Kalinskaya (L) Beatriz Haddad Maia (R) at the 2024 US Open (Image: Getty)

With her straight-set win over Anna Kalinskaya, Beatriz Haddad Maia has set up a fourth-round clash against Caroline Wozniacki at the US Open. The former World No. 1 has impressed at the New York Major by getting through her three matches without losing a set.

She defeated Nao Hibino 6-0, 6-1 before getting the better of Renata Zarazua 6-3, 6-3. In the third round on Saturday, August 31, the Dane defeated Frenchwoman Jessika Ponchet 6-3, 6-2.

This will be the first encounter on tour between Wozniacki and Haddad Maia. The winner of their match will take on either fifth seed Jasmine Paolini or Karolina Muchova in the US Open quarterfinals.

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Edited by Neelabhra Roy
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