By Michael Chammas
Canadian Vasek Pospisil has joined Australian Nick Kyrgios in criticising umpires who like to highlight their presence on court.
After falling to Andy Murray in the Wimbledon quarter finals, Pospisil took a swipe at the umpire who handed him a time violation in the three-set loss, claiming some umpires let ego get in the way of their job.
Upset: Vasek Pospisil of Canada was called for a time violation during his ball toss.Credit: Getty Images
In front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as football royalty David Beckham, the 25-year-old was called for two time violations by umpire Pascal Maria, both at critical moments in the 6‑4, 7‑5, 6‑4 defeat to Murray, who will take on Roger Federer in the semi-final.
The Canadian wasn't impressed with the timing of the violations, which are called when players take more than 30 seconds to serve between points, in particular the first occasion.
Pospisil was pinged right at the 30-second limit as he was tossing the ball to serve with the scores at 5-5, 30-30 in the second set, dropping the following two points to go down a break and eventually lose the set.
Pospisil, who muttered "so typical" when he returned to his chair, claimed the top players were allowed to get away with what he was warned for, joining Kyrgios in frustration after the Australian told an umpire "does it feel strong to be up there?".
"I think a lot of times these umpires, they seem to just want to be seen," Pospisil said.
"I don't know why they do it at a time like that. I went 30 seconds. How many times do you see the top guys go more than that and they don't get any violation, especially when it's important moments. But then I go out there and I get a time violation.
"He said, 'yeah, it was right on 30 seconds'. I was right about to serve the ball. If he would have waited one second longer, I would have served. I don't know. I don't agree with that time when he did it. Maybe the second one, yes, but not that, not at five-all, 30‑all. That was ridiculous, in my opinion."
At 0-30 and 4-4 in the third set, Maria called another time violation against Pospisil. This time it cost him his first serve. The crowd didn't seem to agree with Maria's call, hence the large cheer for Pospisil when he won the ensuing point.
It was suggested a visible clock be introduced to help players but Pospisil said it just called for umpires to show common sense.
"I wouldn't say a clock would be the right thing because, I mean, if you're an umpire, you just have to kind of use your common sense and your judgment with the moment in the match," Pospisil said.
"It was only 30 seconds. There he could have used his judgment a little bit. Maybe say, This is 5-5, 30‑30, he's one second away from serving. It wasn't like I was still wiping the towel or anything. I was literally about to toss. He said 'time violation'. I was very surprised.
"So, yeah, I think they just need to use their judgment and, you know, try to take little things out of it. You know, maybe their egos, I don't know. It just didn't seem like the right time to do it for me. I think it's just something maybe they need to, you know, take a course on how to do it."