Alexander Zverev slams 'absolutely ridiculous' Australian Open rule which put him in very awkward situation against Tommy Paul

Alexander Zverev has just secured another Australian Open semi-final spot with his win over Tommy Paul, but the German isn’t entirely happy.

ATP number two Zverev beat number 11 Paul 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1 in a thrilling Australian Open quarter-final at Rod Laver Arena.

Mats Wilander thinks Zverev is ‘looking unbelievably good’ in Melbourne, where he has now reached his third semi-final.

Paul was really impressing at the Australian Open, but the American fell just short against the two-time Grand Slam finalist.

Zverev dramatically saved a set point in the first two sets of the match, but at the same time was left angry when the chair umpire remarkably called a let mid-rally because of a feather.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Alexander Zverev slams lack of electronic let calling at Australian Open

He was a set up but a break down in the second set when the incident occurred, leaving the German in disbelief.

The world number two managed to recover to win the set and subsequently the match, but he also issued his frustrations with the technology in his post-match press conference.

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Asked if it is a surprise that let calls are not electronic at the Australian Open, Zverev replied: “Yeah, I mean, we had that since French Open last year that at Grand Slams for some reason we don’t use let machines.

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“I think it’s, to be honest, quite ridiculous. Every single corner of everything has a camera. We have video review and all the high-end technologies that we can possibly have. But a simple let machine that we’ve been using for the past 25 years is not available at a Grand Slam.

“To be honest, the point that Tommy Paul complained about, it was an incredibly clear let. You know, I didn’t know what to do in that situation. I have to continue playing because if there’s no call and I stop playing, then it’s a loss of point for me.

“You know, in that situation there’s nothing much you can do but to continue playing. But he was absolutely right, you know. It is a clear let call.

“I don’t blame the umpire too much for it, because it is tough to hear, especially if you are sitting higher up. But for me it’s absolutely ridiculous.

“It’s such a surprise why we don’t have a simple let machine at Grand Slams that we used to have for the past 25 years in tennis.”

Tommy Paul unaware of Australian Open let machine rule after loss vs Alexander Zverev

Remarkably, Paul also had issues with the umpire during the first set tiebreak regarding a supposed missed let call, which Zverev alluded to.

The American can hold his head extremely high after his efforts in Melbourne, with a top 10 debut now guaranteed thanks to his run.

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And while he was aggrieved at one specific let call during the match, Paul has admitted that it didn’t impact the final result.

Asked if he was confused there was no electronic calling on the let, he responded: “Yeah, I mean, I was already down like 4-1 in the breaker. I think maybe double mini-break. Yeah, I hit a serve, and it was a let, but the chair didn’t see it.

“I just didn’t know that there was no automatic… what’s it called… let machine here. It is what it is. That didn’t lose me the match or anything.”

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