Tennis fans were left furious over “player bias” in favour of Novak Djokovic, and subsequently got in contact with Ofcom.
3
127 viewers rang the broadcasting regulator over its reporting of Djokovic’s match against Carlos Alcaraz in last week’s men’s singles final.
On 16th July, Alcaraz ended Djokovic’s 10-year Centre Court reign in a five-set epic.
The 20-year-old Spaniard halted his opponent’s 46-match winning streak and his run of four successive men’s singles titles at the All England Club.
Prince William and Prince George were in the Royal Box, while Brad Pitt was sat in front of the media seats.
But viewers at home watched the game play out on BBC One – with many venting their frustrations at commentator Andrew Castle on Twitter.
One wrote at the time, “Why was the BBC commentary repeatedly #derogatory #prejudice ‘Novak and the Spaniard’?”
Another added, “Carlos Alcaraz is winning and the BBC commentators are speaking as if Novak Djokovic is the only guy on the court.”
A third agreed, “Not sure if the BBC commentators realise this is the Wimbledon men’s singles final, not a Novak Djokovic documentary. Unreal bias.”
One more said, “I beg you why oh why do we have to suffer the insufferable #andrewcastle ‘commentating’ on the #WimbledonFinal.”
Djokovic was fined £6,100 ($8,000) after smashing his racket against a net post during the match.
The Serbian was punished for “racket abuse” when he was crucially broken in the deciding set.
The world No.2, who banked £1.2million for being a runner-up, said: “It was frustration in the moment. He played amazing to break my serve, which was enough to win the fifth set.”
The final had a peak audience of 11.3million on BBC One – the largest viewing figures since Andy Murray’s 2016 win over Milos Raonic topped 13.3million.
3
3