Martina Navratilova, a BBC pundit and tennis legend, sharply criticised Jelena Ostapenko during live coverage of her Wimbledon first-round match against Britain's Harriet Dart on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred when Ostapenko, leading 5-2 in the first set, raised her racket to halt play just as Dart was about to serve.
Match Interrupted by Mobile Phone
Dart had saved two set points and was serving at 40-40 to stay in the set. As she tossed the ball, Ostapenko lifted her racket high, prompting a frustrated response from Navratilova. "Why is Ostapenko holding up her racket? Why is she holding it up? [Huge groan]. Seriously?" Navratilova asked live on air. "The umpire should have called her up on that. There is no reason for Ostapenko to be holding up her racket."
After the brief pause, Ostapenko returned Dart's serve into the net, giving the British player the advantage. The umpire then addressed the crowd, announcing: "If you have your mobile phone with you can you please make sure it is switched off. Thank you."
Navratilova softened her stance upon realising the cause, admitting: "Oh it's a mobile phone, that is so annoying. You rarely get that happening these days."
Dart Fights Back but Ostapenko Prevails
Dart followed up with an ace to win the game, yet still lost the opening set 6-3. However, she rallied to take the second set 6-3. Ostapenko ultimately won the match by claiming the decisive third set 6-4.
The world No.31 reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018 and improved on her first-round exit last year. Ostapenko came into Wimbledon in reasonable shape, having reached the Eastbourne semi-final, where she was forced to retire through injury while a set down against Tatjana Maria. Meanwhile, Dart had made an early exit from the same tournament, suffering a three-set defeat to Zeynep Sonmez.
