Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rennae Stubbs gives her verdict on Felix Auger-Aliassime & Alexander Bublik’s controversial incident in Dubai clash

Rennae Stubbs, who once coached Serena Williams, has shared her take on an unusual incident that occured in a first-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships in Dubai. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime was playing Alexander Bublik and at 6-6 in the first set tie-breaker, Bublik served to set up a rally which ended with the Kazakh smashing a powerful shot to Auger-Aliassime’s backhand.

As Auger-Aliassime sprinted back to attempt a retrieval, the ball girl positioned at the court’s end moved to catch the ball, visibly impeding Auger-Aliassime. Consequently, his backhand return sailed out of bounds. The Canadian immediately requested chair umpire Mirian Bley to review the video. After examining the footage, Bley agreed with Auger-Aliassime and ordered the point to be replayed.

Bublik, incensed with the umpire’s verdict, then delivered an underhand serve which caught Auger-Aliassime unaware. Bublik won the point but then went on to double-fault at set point, and eventually lost the match 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 3-6.

The extraordinary incident was reshared by the Tennis TV’s X (formerly Twitter) account, under the heading:

“VAR drama in Dubai. A contentious moment in Auger-Aliassime v Bublik…”

Stubbs reacted to the incident on her X account, supporting the umpires’s decision, writing:

“Correct decision from the umpire. Unfortunate because chances are he would have still won the point Bublik but it was correct. Also I love when @felixtennis get punchy!!”

Notably, Rennae Stubbs was once the WTA’s No. 1 ranked doubles player, and won four doubles Major titles in the 2000s. She also coached Serena Williams towards the end of the multi-major winner’s career.

After the match, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged that the contest with Bublik had been a feisty one, but preferred to highlight the quality of the tennis rather than the controversy. He told Arab News:

“It was a good match. I think entertaining for the crowd, for both players. And some good tennis as well. Some crazy shots on both sides during the match. So, yeah, high quality,”