Arthur Fery was left fuming at Wimbledon when an overly-eager ballboy cost him a vital point against Alexander Zverev. The two ATP talents met on Centre Court on Friday afternoon for a semi-final clash on the coveted courts of SW19.
And with Zverev holding a 7-6 (1-1) lead over Fery, the Briton will have been disappointed to see a valuable point go amiss due to a ballboy’s premature movement on the sidelines. Fery served with pace, lagging 30-0 for the point, as Zverev lofted the ball back toward him, taking the sting out of the shot. As Fery put his opponent on skates with a well placed bunt toward the opposite side of the court, a ballboy beside the umpire burst upward in animated fashion.
As the umpire announced a let and for the point to be replayed, Fery threw his arms out wide in frustration – while Zverev was unable to keep the ball in play as he attempted to return. As Fery yelled, “How?!” the BBC commentary team were quick to give an explanation over the debacle.
John McEnroe said: “I think they’re replaying the point…the ballboy,” before Andrew Cotter added: “Yeah, it was just over-eagerness from the ballboy.”
McEnroe then added: “I think Zverev missed this ball so he should be happy it’s a let,” before Cotter added: “And Fery should have done a lot more on the backhand.”
Zverev ultimately made Fery pay the price with the very next shot with a punishing backhand making Fery hit the net with his return to take the first set 7-6 (2-1) in total. It’s not the first instance of ball assistants interfering with play by acting prematurely, either.
Matt Chilton and Louise Hunt were left baffled during Wednesday’s men’s doubles wheelchair clash which saw Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid run riot over Tom Egberink and Maarten Ter Hofte. The two teams were involved in an edge-of-your seat rally toward the end of the second set, when an assistant went to roll the balls back, assuming that the point had ended.
Audible gasps could be heard as the umpire paused play and announced a let, while Chilton and Hunt were taken aback by the error. Chilton said: “Oh no, the umpire has called the match to stop and play a let,” as Hunt replied: “That was a superb rally. I think he said a ball person had dropped a ball I think he said.”
Chilton added: “I think he said ball kid, didn’t hear the rest of it,” as hunt then said: “What a shame, it was a magic point. I feel for [inaudible] there. That was superb. Hand around the back, it was incredible.”