It was in the second set and at the score 6–6 that Truls Möregårdh loudly protested against a judgment.
The 32nd-ranked Omar Assar was then awarded a point after the referee considered that Möregårdh had not thrown the ball up in a correct way during a serve.
It's wrong. I've done it eight times before without you doing anything, the Swede was heard saying in SVT's broadcast.
The referee did not change his decision and Möregårdh received a warning for protesting.
Gave fuel
The incident seemed to give Möregårdh fuel. The 23-year-old took home the set with 11–8 and equalized to 1–1 after losing the first one with 5–11.
He then took the third one with 11–6 and was able to advance to the third round by winning the fourth one with 12–10. In the round of 16, the Swede will face the Japanese Yukiya Duda.
Möregårdh won the World Tour's latest Grand Smash tournament at home in Malmö.
Kristian Karlsson had a least to say hectic Tuesday in Beijing. He started the day by advancing in the doubles tournament together with Mattias Falck – World Championship gold medalists in doubles in 2021 – via a 3–0 win against Aditya Sareen, Australia/Edward Ly, Canada, in the first round.
A few hours later, Karlsson and Stina Källberg won a thriller in mixed doubles against Falck, who lined up with the Slovak Barbora Várady. The blue and yellow pair won with 3–2 in sets and is clear for the quarterfinals against Yuan Licen/Wang Yidi, China.
Just Yuan was waiting for Karlsson in the second round of the singles tournament. Yuan knocked out Anton Källberg in the first round.
Approved day
The 33-year-old Karlsson, ranked as number 40 in the world, impressed against the 141st-ranked Yuan, who qualified for the tournament. The Swede dismissed the Chinese with 3–0 in sets after the numbers 12–10, 11–8, 11–6.
A fully approved day at work, says Karlsson to SVT and continues:
Taking revenge for Anton's loss yesterday feels very good. It became a very good match picture for me. I made him terribly unsure of my serves.
In the doubles tournament, Karlsson and Falck will face tough opposition on Wednesday. Then the Swedes will face the Chinese Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong – number one and two in the world rankings in singles – in the round of 16.
Karlsson will also meet Lin in the round of 16 of the singles tournament.
