It doesn't change the trajectory, but the ball grazes the t-shirt," the surreal point lost by Bolelli and Vavassori at the Masters

Jules Hypolite

le 15/11/2025 à 17h54

1 min to read

ATP Finals Bolelli Heliovaara Patten Vavassori

Video assistance was called upon this Saturday at the ATP Finals for a rather unusual situation.

During the doubles match between the pairs Bolelli/Vavassori and Heliovaara/Patten, the chair umpire ruled that the ball had grazed Bolelli's t-shirt, resulting in the loss of the point for the Italian team.

Andrea Vavassori then asked to check the sequence with the help of video, but Renaud Lichtenstein upheld his decision, despite the fact that this contact had no impact on the ball's trajectory.

Chair Umpire: "I can see the t-shirt move."

Bolelli: "But it doesn't change the trajectory, everyone can see the ball doesn't touch anything."

Chair Umpire: "I understand, I know it doesn't alter the trajectory, but on the camera placed at net level, you can clearly see the t-shirt move.

I have to confirm my decision, because you can see the ball slightly touch the t-shirt.