Foul call only delays Italian team taking the 1st set in Australian Open doubles final

By Canadian Press on January 25, 2025.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori had a point overturned while serving for the first set because of a foul shot, but it only delayed them taking a lead in Saturday’s Australian Open men’s doubles final against Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.

Delayed them quite a bit, actually, in taking the first set 7-6 (16) in 87 minutes.

Chair umpire Thomas Sweeney called Vavassori for an infringement in the 10th game, with the Italian pair serving at 5-4, because his racket crossed the line of the net as he hit what he thought was a volley to earn a set point.

Instead, Heliovaara and Patten were awarded the point — a break point at 30-40 — which they converted for 5-5.

The Italian pair saved three set points in the 12th game and then another seven in the 24-minute, 34-point tiebreaker before Bolelli hit a forehand winner to clinch it.

It created the scene for a dramatic second set.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The Associated Press