Clay season is here and so are controversies related to it. A thrilling season indeed, however, it also brings the debate around manual line calling. The absence of electronic line calling raises debates between the players and the line judges. And as one of the most competitive players steps onto the court, the issue is bound to rise. Novak Djokovic faced a contentious line call during his second-round match of the Monte Carlo Masters.

It would not be wrong to say that the frustration that was built did not yield a fruitful result. An on-court outburst led to Djokovic some racquets getting deducted from his side.

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The clay restricts the use of technology on the court. Usually line calling is quite accurate, owing to the advanced electronic or hawk-eye method. However, the dirt of the clay restricts that, and therefore, the final call is by the chair umpire.

However, multiple times, it has been wrong. Djokovic too lost such a point during the second set of the second-round match at the Monte Carlo Masters against Lorenzo Musetti. The chair umpire called the ball in, despite the ball being long. It was because of the mark visible on the court.

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However, she failed to differentiate the ball mark from the shoe mark leading to Djokovic losing a point. The frustration was visible with Djokovic insisted, “But where is the mark? You’re not showing me the mark!”

The chair umpire kept on pointing to his shoe mark and hence lost a point in the end. The line judge did not make a call because of uncertainty, so the final call was on the chair umpire.

Losing a point would not have been that much of an issue, however, that wrong call cost Djokovic a set. And if that was not enough, the rain interruption before the third set made a perfect recipe for an on-court outburst.

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Eventually, in the end, Djokovic went and broke a spare racquet near his stand. The frustration clear over his face, Djokovic seemed a bit distressed. The match is proving to be quite a roller-coaster ride for Djokovic.

The idea behind the traditional method of checking the mark manually, because the ball leaves a mark on clay, is turning out to be more contentious than nostalgic.

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As the third set began, the Serbian has a title to defend at stake. However, as it would have it, Djokovic ended up losing the match to Musetti by 4-6, 7-5, and 6-4.