SAME UMPIRE AS COCO GAUFF MATCH CAUGHT UP IN ANDY MURRAY CONTROVERSY WITH THREE STRAIGHT POINTS CHALLENGED AND WON

Andy Murray had a superb comeback on Monday as he came from a set down to beat Denis Shapovalov in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championship. The umpire for the match was Pierre Bacchi, who was at the centre of attention in one of Coco Gauff’s matches at this tournament.

Bacchi once again found himself in the spotlight during the opening game in the second set when Murray successfully challenged three calls made on the court. Firstly when the Brit was serving and originally called out, then again on Murray’s service on the left-centre line that was also given out.

Murray became increasingly annoyed with each decision and made it a hattrick of successful challenges when his eagle eyes caught the ball drift out on the baseline to see an “extraordinary” game come to an end.

Murray defeated Shapovalov 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 and will face either Gael Monfils or Ugo Humbert in the second round.