Sabalenka says players must halt points for hindrance amid Medvedev controversy

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Medvedev[/a] earned a late break in his [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/?mid=GSkTVyxi"]6-1, ‌7-5[/a] victory after a contentious hindrance call from ‌chair umpire Aurelie Tourte, who ruled via video review that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/draper-jack/SWxNhpmK/"]‌Draper[/a]'s raised arm distracted the Russian. The review was ‌requested once the point ended.[/p][p]Draper insisted he had not caused a major distraction but the umpire stuck with her decision to award ‌Medvedev the point, prompting jeers from fans.[/p][p]According ⁠to the video review ‌procedures for Indian Wells, as listed by the ATP and ​WTA, reviews can be sought after point-ending shots or if a player immediately stops play.[/p][p][b]"What I think ​is really awkward is you can finish the point and then ask for that,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Sabalenka[/a] told reporters on Friday.[/p][embed guid="944f6fbd-e543-4ac1-ae5c-fc1a893957b1" url="https://x.com/BNPPARIBASOPEN/status/2032624000942354853" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Because ⁠if you really ​got bothered, then you should stop immediately and ask for the video review ... if he would have won the point, he wouldn't probably ask for the video review, right? ‌I don't really think that's the way it should be.[/b][/p][p][b]"If he got bothered, (he should) ask for the video review straightaway."[/b][/p][p]Video review technology has been available on all courts at the nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments since February last year, allowing players to challenge umpiring decisions on foul shots and hindrances among other issues.[/p][p]Umpires can also call hindrance without a player seeking a review, as happened with ‌Sabalenka for excessive grunting in a rally during her ​Australian Open semi-final win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a] in January.[/p][p][b]"With ‌me, it was unnecessary for the referee to call that one. About Daniil, theoretically he (Draper) made the move, but I don't think it bothered Daniil that much,"[/b] she said.[/p][p]Sabalenka faces [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] in the Indian ⁠Wells final on Sunday, a ⁠rematch of their Melbourne ‌Park title clash.[/p]