French Open: Cameron Norrie booed after double bounce controversy against Lucas Pouille – ‘A real misjudgement’

Cameron Norrie was caught up in controversy during the third set of his second-round match against qualifier Lucas Pouille.

With Norrie leading 6-1 6-3 2-1 on Court Suzanne Lenglen, a sliced forehand drop shot from the Frenchman appeared to bounce twice before Norrie made his return. Pouille then hit his next shot out to award Norrie a break point.

Pouille and the home crowd vented their frustration towards the umpire. Pouille shouted towards the umpire: “It touched the floor!”

Eurosport commentators Paul Hand and Yasmin Clarke agreed that the umpire was in the wrong.

“Oh wow, that’s a real misjudgement there from the umpire,” Clarke said. “That was clearly a double bounce. Lucas Pouille stopped.

“Understandably, there’s a sense of aggrievement from the French,” Hand said. “But to be fair to Norrie, when you’re sprinting flat out, it’s difficult to see. He would have just lunged at that and assume perhaps that he made it.

“The umpire didn’t see the double bounce, that’s for sure. We had the luxury of the slow-mo replay.”

Clarke added: “To be honest I don’t think she was watching; I think she was looking at Lucas Pouille, which is why she missed it.”

Norrie was met by more boos from the home crowd afterwards as he converted the break point which proved decisive in the final set.

Speaking after the match, Norrie admitted he thought the ball had bounced twice.

He told reporters: “I saw the ball in the end. It was spinning back, so I was, like, maybe there’s a chance I got it.

“Then I just watched it now just before coming here, and I think it looks like it did bounce twice. But yeah, for me there was a bit of doubt there.

“I think it’s up to the umpire to call that, and she was right there in front of that and it was right there in front of her and close to her.

“When I was going ahead, I didn’t know, so I continued the point. But I think it’s on her to make those decisions.

“The other day I had one against me, and then looks like today I had one for me. It’s a bit disappointing how it goes like that, but it is what it is. I just continue playing.”

– – –