TORONTO — In a bizarre and unprecedented moment at the Canadian Open, Italian tennis player Matteo Gigante won a point after his ball went through the net, leading to a rare video review and a decision that left fans and commentators stunned.
The incident occurred during Gigante’s first-round qualifying match against Frenchman Arthur Fils. At a crucial moment in the second set, Gigante hit a forehand that appeared to clip the net tape before somehow passing through a small gap in the netting. The ball landed in Fils’ court, but the Frenchman immediately protested, arguing the point should be replayed.
The chair umpire, initially unsure of the correct ruling, called for a video review under the tournament’s VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system—a technology still relatively new to tennis. After multiple slow-motion replays, officials determined that the ball had indeed passed through the net without touching the tape, making it a legal shot. "The ball went through the net, not over it, so the point stands," the umpire announced, awarding the point to Gigante.
How the Point Unfolded
The unusual sequence began with Gigante on the defensive, scrambling to return a deep shot from Fils. His forehand reply seemed destined to be a routine net cord, but instead, the ball found a tiny hole in the mesh. Key details from the moment include:
- The ball did not visibly touch the net tape, as confirmed by VAR.
- Fils, caught off guard, barely reacted before the ball bounced in his court.
Tennis rules state that if a ball passes through the net without touching it, the point continues. However, if the ball hits the net tape and then goes through, it is considered a let and must be replayed. The VAR review confirmed the former scenario, leaving Fils frustrated but unable to challenge further.
Player and Fan Reactions
Fils, a rising star on the ATP Tour, was visibly baffled by the decision. "I’ve never seen anything like that in my life," he said after the match. "I thought it hit the tape, but the umpire said no. It’s crazy—how often does that happen?"
Gigante, who went on to win the match in three sets, admitted he was just as surprised. "I didn’t even realize what happened until they showed the replay," he said. "I’ll take the point, but I’ve never seen a ball go through the net before."
Fans on social media erupted with reactions, with many calling it one of the strangest moments in tennis history. One user tweeted, "VAR in tennis? A ball through the net? What’s next—a serve bouncing twice and still being in play?"
The Role of VAR in Tennis
While VAR is commonplace in sports like soccer, its use in tennis remains limited. The Canadian Open is one of the few tournaments testing the technology for close line calls and unusual incidents like this. The system relies on high-speed cameras and AI to provide real-time analysis, reducing human error.
Tennis officials confirmed that without VAR, the point might have been incorrectly ruled a let. "This is exactly why we’re experimenting with video review," said tournament referee Tony Cho. "It ensures fairness in situations where the naked eye can’t always catch the details."
Historical Precedents
While rare, this isn’t the first time a ball has gone through the net in professional tennis. In 2015, at the Madrid Open, a similar incident occurred during a doubles match, though no VAR was available at the time. The point was controversially awarded without replay.
Other bizarre tennis moments include:
- A 2019 match where a ball got stuck in a player’s pocket mid-rally.
- A 2006 incident where a seagull swooped down and grabbed a ball during play.
Conclusion
Gigante’s net-defying point will go down as one of the most surreal moments in Canadian Open history. While VAR provided clarity this time, the incident raises questions about whether more tournaments should adopt the technology to handle such anomalies.
As Gigante joked after the match, "Maybe I should practice aiming for the holes in the net now—it’s a new strategy!" Whether or not we see a repeat, this unforgettable moment has already cemented its place in tennis lore.