Australian Open video review rule: Why Emma Navarro lost out on crucial point to Iga Swiatek despite clear double bounce

The 2025 Australian Open erupted in controversy during the quarterfinal clash between Iga Swiatek and Emma Navarro. The controversy was related to a double-bounce incident that took place during a crucial point in the match.

The match had swayed towards Swiatek as the Pole had won the first set courtesy of some brilliant gameplay. However, the eighth seed fought back in the second set. With the set at 2-2, the fifth game swung to-fro as the American player made some good return shots.

However, with the score being Ad-40 in Swiatek's favor, Navarro lost the next point as it seemed that her opponent had reached a drop shot in time and hit it across the net to win the rally in the subsequent shots.

After the point was played, Navarro immediately went to the Chair umpire to tell that there was a double-bounce involved which was later confirmed by video replays. However, the point was given to Swiatek, and there was no further video review of the matter.

With the tennis community in uproar over the incident, the rules were examined closely. It was revealed that the rules clearly state that a player seeking a challenge must immediately stop play or do so if that particular shot ends the rally. This was echoed by experts as well, notably Rennae Stubbs who was on the ESPN commentary team.

In this instance, after Swiatek executed the controversial shot, neither the rally concluded nor did Navarro interrupt play. The point continued with several additional exchanges, rendering it ineligible for review according to the rules. However, it seemed to be an oversight on the chair umpire's part as he should have called the double-bounce as and when it happened.

---

Tennis insider staggered at Emma Navarro's inability to review the double-bounce call

Tennis Insider James Gray, who covers the sport, found it staggering that players who were vocal proponents of the video review system have failed to make use of it when required. He stated that Emma Navarro made her objections known to the umpire, but did not make the specific ask for the review system to be implemented.

The Australian Open was the first Major among the four which had launched a state-of-the-art video review system to enable umpires to make correct calls and allow the players and teams to challenge dubious ones.

As per the tournament organizers, an overturn of the call will be done only if the chair umpire adjudicates that there is enough video evidence to reverse the original decision. However, foot faults, service lets, and time violations do not fall under the scope of the video review and are at the discretion of the chair umpire.