Jack Draper’s match against Daniil Medvedev may have been days ago now, but it seemingly still remains hugely relevant even now that the Indian Wells finalists have been confirmed.
After all, conversations surrounding the controversy that embroiled this game are ongoing, with Martina Navratilova the latest to join the conversation.
In discussing these events, which saw the Brit punished for a seemingly innocuous mid-point gesture, the 18-time singles Grand Slam champion has actually offered her opinion on technology as a whole within the sport.
Martina Navratilova reacts to Jack Draper’s Indian Wells controversy
Speaking to Sky Sports, Navratilova began by reviewing the Jack Draper incident in isolation: “Yeah, I agree with that one because he didn’t call it out. He didn’t say he it out. He didn’t stop playing.
“And I don’t agree with reviewing it, like, three points later. You need to, if it bothers you, you need to stop playing right and there, and now you have an argument. But I think he wanted to see if he can win the point, and then when he lost it, then he called for the hinderance, and then umpire gave it to him!
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“So it can become a little too complicated, but overall, I do like the video replay, because it rights wrongs, particularly on the second bounce, not up. That’s when I think it comes in the most handy. But, yeah, that was the call last night. I don’t agree with it.”
Then touching on technology as a whole, she added: “I do agree with that. I wish we had had it 40 years ago.
“I wouldn’t have to dye my grey hair blonde. So that would have made life a lot easier. I love the technology that we have.”
Navratilova’s stance was not quite as passionate as Steve Johnson’s, as he urged the ATP to make a rule change after this Draper controversy.
How Jack Draper and Daniil Medvedev reacted to hindrance call
Given the fact that Daniil Medvedev won the match rather comfortably, and the point had little value in the grand scheme of things, the reaction of the players to this flashpoint was rather muted.
Draper reacted to the hindrance call immediately after, admitting: “I have not seen anything on it. Do I think it’s the reason why I lost the match? Absolutely not.
“I think Daniil was by far the stronger player. I do feel a bit hard done by, because I did not think that it distracted him enough to lose the point.
“It’s a difficult situation because obviously I did make a movement with my hand and the umpire had to make a call on it, but a little hard done by that I lost the point.”
Meanwhile, Medvedev was cautious in his analysis: “Was I distracted big time? No. Was I distracted a bit? Yes. Is it enough to win the point? I don’t know.”
Jack Draper’s stunning return from injury
Despite this moment of madness during his loss to Medvedev, Draper can still take so much heart from his performances at Indian Wells this week.
This marked just his second tournament back since he withdrew from the US Open last year, and yet he won three matches impressively, including a dramatic three-set epic against Novak Djokovic.
Jack Draper is the ATP’s best bet at unsettling Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s dominance – prove us wrong…
In the end, Medvedev had too much for him on the day, capitalising on his fatigued state to win in straight sets.
The Russian has since beaten Carlos Alcaraz to secure his spot in the Indian Wells final.
