ROME — British tennis star Jack Draper found himself at the center of controversy during his Italian Open quarter-final run after a heated exchange with opponent Hamad Medjedovic, leaving fans and commentators "bamboozled" by the incident.
The 22-year-old Draper, who has been in scintillating form on clay this season, secured a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Serbia's Medjedovic. However, the match was overshadowed by a bizarre moment in the second set when Draper appeared to take issue with his opponent's movement during a crucial point.
The Controversial Incident
At 4-4 in the second set, with Draper serving at 30-30, Medjedovic suddenly turned his back and walked toward the baseline as Draper was about to toss the ball. The Brit immediately stopped his service motion and engaged in a tense discussion with the chair umpire, arguing that Medjedovic's actions constituted deliberate gamesmanship.
"I was completely ready to serve, and he just turned around and walked away," Draper could be heard telling the official. "That's not fair play - he can't just decide when he's ready."
The umpire ultimately ruled in Draper's favor, awarding him the point due to Medjedovic's lack of readiness. This decision sparked visible frustration from the Serbian player, who protested the call before eventually resuming play.
Draper's Post-Match Explanation
In his post-match press conference, Draper addressed the incident with surprising candor: "Look, I don't want to make a big deal of it, but there are rules in tennis about being ready to receive serve. I felt he was trying to disrupt my rhythm at a key moment. The umpire agreed, and that's why the point went my way."
The young Brit, who has risen to a career-high ranking of No. 35 this season, emphasized that he holds no ill will toward Medjedovic but stood by his decision to call out what he perceived as unfair tactics:
- "At this level, small margins decide matches"
- "I have to protect my rights as a player"
- "It wasn't personal, just professional"
Tennis Community Reaction
The tennis world was divided in its assessment of the incident. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman supported Draper's stance, telling Amazon Prime: "The rules are clear - you can't just turn your back when your opponent is serving. Jack was right to stand his ground."
However, some analysts questioned whether Draper overreacted. Tennis Channel commentator Brett Haber noted: "While technically correct, this kind of gamesmanship has been part of tennis for decades. It felt like an unusually aggressive response from Draper."
Medjedovic's Response
The 20-year-old Serbian, who was playing in just his second ATP Masters 1000 event, declined to comment extensively on the incident but told reporters: "I was just adjusting my strings. I didn't mean to disturb him. These things happen in tennis."
Draper's Quarter-Final Prospects
Despite the controversy, Draper's performance on the clay courts of Rome has marked him as one of the most improved players of 2024. His quarter-final appearance equals his best result at Masters level, matching his run in Montreal last year.
Key factors in Draper's recent success include:
- Improved fitness after previous injury struggles
- More aggressive baseline play
- Strong mental resilience
His next opponent will be world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, against whom Draper holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage after a shock win in Basel last year. "It's going to be a huge challenge, but I'm playing my best tennis right now," Draper said of the upcoming match.
Broader Implications
The incident has sparked renewed debate about sportsmanship in tennis, particularly regarding:
- Time violations between points
- Receiver readiness rules
- Gamesmanship tactics
ATP rules state that receivers must play to the "reasonable pace" of the server, though interpretation of this rule often depends on individual umpires. Draper's firm stance may encourage other players to be more vocal about perceived violations.
Conclusion
While the incident with Medjedovic provided unexpected drama, Draper's focus remains firmly on his continued rise up the rankings. "I'm here to play tennis and compete at the highest level," he stated. "Everything else is just noise."
With his quarter-final match against Zverev looming, Draper will hope to let his racket do the talking as he seeks the biggest win of his young career on one of tennis's most prestigious stages.