Furious French star accuses umpire of being a LIAR in fierce blow-up over a very controversial call – as he blasts Australian Open official as the ‘worst he’s dealt with in 20 years’
- Jeremy Chardy labelled chair umpire Miriam Bley a liar at the Australian Open
- Fired up Frenchman, 35, was enraged after a point wasn’t replayed by Bley
- Later asked Bley was she ‘looking at the birds’ rather than action on Court 3
Seething French star Jeremy Chardy could face sanctions from tournament officials at the Australian Open after branding chair umpire Miriam Bley a liar and the ‘worst he’s dealt with in 20 years’.
Chardy, 35, was enraged after Bley called let during the first set in his second round match against England’s Dan Evans with the score locked at 3-3.
Seconds earlier during a rally, a ball in Chardy’s pocket fell out on court, and the animated Frenchman then hit his ensuing forehand into the net.
Chardy was fuming when the point was awarded to 25th seed Evans, despite Bley’s late let call.
The veteran felt the point should have been replayed.
French veteran Jeremy Chardy (left) could face sanctions from tournament officials at the Australian Open after branding chair umpire Miriam Bley (right) a liar
Chardy, 35, felt a point should have been replayed after a ball fell from his pocket mid-rally against England’s Dan Evans
A delay of 10 minutes followed, with Chardy asking Bley whether she was ‘looking at the birds’ rather than the rally.
‘I’ve never seen that in my life. I’ve played for 20 years and I’ve never had an umpire bad like you. Not one. You don’t see a ball,’ the fired up Frenchman said.
‘I hit there a forehand, I go over there so it’s like five seconds and you don’t even see.
‘Where are you looking? Are you looking at the birds? Are you looking somewhere in the crowd?
‘That is the biggest mistake of the Australian Open already.’
Chardy later asked Bley whether she was ‘looking at the birds’ rather than the action on court
Evans, the 25th seed, maintained his composure against Chardy to win in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 6-1 and move into the third round
As tension mounted, a tournament supervisor was called and Chardy sensationally accused Bley of ‘lying.’
‘I don’t trust you at all,’ Chardy was heard saying.
He then asked for her to be penalised and later labelled Bley the ‘worst (official) he’s dealt with in 20 years’.
Evans kept his composure to win in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 6-1.
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