But the former’s win over Navarro was not without controversy, with WTA number two Swiatek winning a rally at 2-2 in the second set despite the ball appearing to bounce twice on her side of the court.

Swiatek wasn’t sure if it was a double bounce, but various replays suggest that the point should have gone the way of the American.

Video review (VR) rules state players can challenge certain decisions on a point-ending call or when a player immediately stops play, with Navarro having chosen to continue playing before losing the point shortly after.

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Among those reacting to the point was tennis commentator Rob Koenig, who wrote on X: “We gotta change the VR rule… you should be allowed to challenge a ‘not up’ after the point is finished (like VAR in football when they let the play unfold, then check offside). Navarro got a rough call there early in the 2nd set.”

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Six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker was quick to concur, with the former world number one responding: “Agree with you Rob.”

Tennis fans react to Iga Swiatek’s controversial Australian Open point vs Emma Navarro

Mixed views from fans have emerged following the semi-final controversy, with disagreement over the thoughts of Becker and Koenig.

“Disagree here,” one fan wrote on X. “The VR challenge rule is simply an extension of the hawkeye challenge rule (before hawkeye live), which also only allows players to challenge if they immediately stop play. Don’t see any reason why you can only challenge line calls immediately but not for VRs.”

Another fan concurred: “Do you not think that is slightly unfair in that it gives a player two chances to win a point? Either they go on to win the point and don’t need to challenge, or lose the point and then challenge. I think the umpire should be able to choose to do VAR anyway.”

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There was also criticism of the umpire, with one fan saying: “It’s the umpire’s fault. Iga was clearly not looking at the racket or ball, she was sliding to try to get it. Of course, haters will blame her. But with today’s technology, why can’t the court recognise double bounce anyway? Same story as those net cord machines, ridiculous.”

Navarro certainly didn’t lay blame on her opponent, while many fans did suggest that the point had little impact on the final outcome of the match.

Swiatek has, however, come under fire, with one fan noting: “Swiatek knew it bounced twice, hence the delay after she’d hit it. Really poor from her.”

Another commented: “Swiatek without doubt knew that it was a double bounce, from the timing, the feel of the ball on her racket and the ball trajectory. Any experienced tennis player would know it. Really poor sportsmanship from her.”

Others even believe there was no double bounce, while unsurprisingly there was sympathy for Navarro, who needed to challenge the double bounce immediately as opposed to waiting for the rally to finish.

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