‘Bad night of sleep’: American’s big regrets as Zverev surges on after bizarre ‘feathergate’ blow-up

Alexander Zverev’s quarter-final victory over American Tommy Paul at the 2025 Australian Open was marked by a series of contentious moments that left Paul reflecting on missed opportunities.

Controversial Let Call

A pivotal incident occurred during a first-set tiebreak when Paul served a ball that appeared to clip the net—a “let”—but the chair umpire did not call it. Paul expressed his frustration, remarking, “How are you going to be in charge of the lets, dude? If you don’t hear that one, you’re not going to see any of them.” This moment highlighted the absence of let machines at major tournaments, a change Zverev described as “absolutely ridiculous.”

Feather Interruption

Another unusual disruption occurred when a feather drifted onto the court mid-rally, prompting the umpire to call for a replayed point. Zverev expressed his bewilderment, stating, “I’ve never had that before, that we stopped a point because of a feather.” He questioned the necessity of halting play for such a minor obstruction, suggesting it didn’t affect the ball’s trajectory or bounce.

Paul’s Reflections

Despite these incidents, Paul acknowledged Zverev’s resilience and ability to elevate his game during critical moments. He remarked, “He did what he always does. He picks up his level at the big moments, and my level unfortunately dropped in the big moments today.”

These events underscored the unpredictable nature of the match and the challenges players face when navigating unexpected disruptions during high-stakes competitions.

For a closer look at Alexander Zverev’s on-court demeanor and interactions during the Australian Open, you can watch the following interview: