Pat McAfee Criticizes Controversial Hindrance Call in Medvedev-Draper Match

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ESPN's Pat McAfee, who rarely discusses tennis on his show, voiced his disapproval of the chair umpire's controversial hindrance call during the quarterfinal match between Daniil Medvedev and Jack Draper at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. McAfee, along with other tennis fans and experts, argued that Draper's arm motion was not significant enough to constitute a distraction and therefore a hindrance to Medvedev. The call ultimately went in Medvedev's favor, but many believe it could have impacted the outcome of the closely contested second set.

Why it matters

The hindrance call in the Medvedev-Draper match highlights the ongoing debate in tennis about the role of chair umpires in making subjective calls that can significantly impact the outcome of a match. With tennis increasingly relying on technology to make objective calls, situations like this raise questions about whether umpires should have the authority to make such judgment calls.

The details

In the quarterfinal match, Medvedev argued that Draper's arm motion during a rally constituted a hindrance, leading the chair umpire to award the point to Medvedev. Draper and others, including McAfee, argued that Draper's movement was not significant enough to be considered a hindrance. The call came at a crucial moment in the second set, which was tied at 5-5 at the time.

• The controversial hindrance call occurred during the quarterfinal match between Daniil Medvedev and Jack Draper at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on March 12, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The outcome of the Medvedev-Draper match could have implications for the rest of the BNP Paribas Open tournament, as Medvedev's victory allowed him to advance to the semifinals.