‘Maybe she just didn’t own up to it’: Matteo Berrettini fumes as umpire appears to cause noise distraction

Italian star Matteo Berrettini was left in disbelief after a mysterious noise during his match against Holger Rune seemed to cause him to hit a ball wide. The incident occurred during the third set, with Berrettini trailing 15-30 in the game. As he and Rune exchanged shots in a rally, a sound coincided with chair umpire Louise Engzell turning her head.

After hitting the ball wide, Berrettini immediately approached Engzell, questioning the source of the noise. “It’s not loud, loud,” Engzell remarked, to which Berrettini responded, “What do you mean it’s not loud, loud? I heard it.”

Engzell suggested the noise came from someone in the crowd dropping something, but Berrettini was adamant it originated from the microphone. Commentator Brad Stine, speaking on Nine’s coverage, supported Berrettini’s theory: “I’m pretty sure she bumped the microphone.”

Stine added that players like Daniil Medvedev or Andy Roddick might have addressed the situation more assertively, suggesting they would have demanded a review. “Maybe she just didn’t own up to it,” Stine speculated.

Fellow commentator Mark Petchey questioned why Berrettini didn’t pursue a video and audio review, saying, “Why didn’t Matteo go back to the video review and ask for the audio? I’m pretty sure Louise would have heard the noise.”

Although Berrettini lost the third set, he did manage to earn two set points in the fourth. However, Rune saved both and went on to win the tiebreak and the match, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).