Let it be: Zverev surprised when a feather delays play at the Australian Open

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts as he holds a feather during his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul of the U.S. during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts as he holds a feather during his quarterfinal match against Tommy Paul of the U.S. during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)


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MELBOURNE, Australia — Alexander Zverev was bothered by an officiating call caused by a bird's feather at the Australian Open. The second-seeded Zverev took the first set of his quarterfinal Tuesday but was down 4-2 in the second when Tommy Paul saved two break points. With the game in the balance, chair umpire Nacho Forcadell called "let — replay the point" during a rally when he saw a feather drop into Zverev's eyeline as the German player was in his backswing. A bemused Zverev yelled: "What? A feather? There's millions of them on the court." Zverev lost that point but went on to a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1 victory. A missed call on a more obvious let bothered both players.

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