Umpire forced to pause Alexander Zverev match after Novak Djokovic blasts 'one of the most stupid rule changes'

Novak Djokovic was left seething at a "stupid" rule change during his quarter-final clash against Alexander Zverev at the China Open.

Zverev was serving at 1-0, 30-15 in the opening set when the controversy started after mishitting a forehand out once Djokovic returned his first big serve.

After the point, the German complained to chair umpire Adel Nour, who then announced that the world No. 1 had requested a video review to check if a courtside LED advertising board changed during the point.

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Novak Djokovic slams 'most stupid rule change' he's seen during China Open

A replay confirmed that the boards display at the side of the court changed during Zverev's service motion, with the umpire ruling that this qualified as a let and the point should be replayed after pausing the match.

That prompted an angry reaction from Djokovic, who couldn't believe the point was allowed to be replayed after his opponent did not stop after his serve to make the request, and instead waited until he missed the forehand.

"Okay, [the board changed when] he was about to serve… he served, I played one shot, he played another shot and then he challenged. Is that okay?" Djokovic said to the umpire.

“If he was annoyed by that change there, he would stop after the serve and he would call it. It doesn’t make any sense.”

The Serbian then spoke to Zverev, who approached the net: “You missed the forehand, and then you challenged.”

Zverev replied: “Yeah, but I didn’t know if I could challenge or not, that’s why I came to him and asked him if I could challenge.”

“Yeah, but then you stop after the serve," Djokovic said in response before issuing a complaint about the rule and picking out a huge flaw with it.

Djokovic then complained: “I mean, this must be one of the most stupid change of rules that I’ve heard in my life. There is no sense… if the player sees that there is a hindrance on that shot — he stops immediately.

“I mean, we can play a 30-shot rally, and he can lose the point, and he’s like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna challenge now’.”

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'I've never seen that before' - Nick Lester puzzled by umpire decision

Djokovic was right to feel angered by Nour's decision to replay the point, as a player must stop play immediately to challenge a line call. They cannot wait until later in the rally or after the point has finished if it disrupts the flow.

Speaking about the incident live on Sky Sports, former professional and current commentator Nick Lester was equally puzzled.

"I've never seen that before. Obviously the VAR is there to be used," while Annabel Croft replied: "This is absolutely fascinating. I have never, ever seen this. It would be a first if they replayed the point."

"It changed before the point. I guess there they should have stopped the point... I think Djokovic is right. I've never seen anything so ridiculous in my life. I cannot believe they have made this decision," Croft continued.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion also received plenty of support online, with one person writing: "I'm not a fan of Djokovic at all but he has a point here. Zverev serves, Djokovic hits the return, Zverev miss the next shot and then challenges that when he served the screens in the arena changed causing him to be distracted."

"A crazy decision by the umpire in the Djokovic vs Zverev match," another said, while a third commented: "Can you imagine Alcaraz, Sinner, or even Djokovic asking for the point to be replayed? Me neither. Really bad from Zverev."