Australian Open drama as net malfunction causes bizarre delay with Naomi Osaka exasperated during first-round victory over Antonia Ruzic

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There was a delay lasting more than five minutes during Naomi Osaka's Australian Open first-round victory over Antonia Ruzic after a malfunction with the newly-implemented net technology at the Melbourne tournament. Lights on the net posts, which turn red when the electronic line-calling system rules a shot out, would not turn off at a crucial moment in a tense second set.

Watch as bizarre net-light malfunction causes delay in Osaka's opening match

Video credit: TNT Sports

Naomi Osaka's tense Australian Open first-round win against Antonia Ruzic underwent a bizarre, lengthy stoppage after a "permanent light show" occurred as a result of a malfunction with the Melbourne major's new technology.

Lights on the net posts were implemented at the Australian Open for the first time this year. Working in conjunction with the electronic line-calling system, the lights flash up red when a shot lands out.

And in a truly crucial moment of the second set, as Osaka had the opportunity to break Ruzic and eradicate the Croatian's advantage, the lights flashed red, and remained that way through the point, as Ruzic forced deuce with a sublime, disguised backhand down the line.

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The impending deuce was delayed, however, as the red lights never faded. Chair umpire Marijana Veljovic immediately took a view of the situation and consulted her radio, where it was confirmed Ruzic's effort did, in fact, land in - but that there was an error with the light system.

Osaka and Ruzic were then asked whether they were happy to continue playing with the red lights on.

"No!" Osaka audibly replied. "How long do you think it's going to take?"

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Chair umpire Veljovic replied: "I don't have information about that."

Commentator Naomi Broady said: "Both players understandably saying they would rather not play with the lights. They had turned on before the point began, but I don't think either player had noticed before the point finished."

Osaka appeared exasperated as she walked over to discuss the issue with Veljovic, but the verdict was ultimately to wait for a solution - forcing those inside the Rod Laver Arena to entertain themselves for over five minutes.

Nick Mullins said on commentary: "We were enjoying the red lights which had been a new feature at this year's Australian Open, the lights that come on to confirm the out calls of the electronic light judges.

"They only come on when the ball is out, right now, it's a permanent light show. And for some reason, neither player wants to continue with the lights on."

Broady countered that the lights suddenly turning off mid-point would be a distraction to the players - and replaying the point at such an important stage in the match did not seem the most viable of solutions.

Mullins, meanwhile, suggested umpire Veljovic could have been more assertive in her ruling.

"I do wonder if Marijana Veljovic said 'the lights are on, we're going to get the system sorted out, but for the time being, we'll play on' - I don't think there would have been a huge argument."

Spectators in Melbourne's showcase arena continued to make the best of their evening out - with Mexican waves going around the stands - as technical staff assessed the mass tangle of plugs on the perimeter of the court.

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"I know there's a lot of panic going on behind the scenes but, here on Rod Laver, there's always a party," Broady said.

The arena erupted into cheers when the lights flicked off - seemingly with the solution to just pull the plug on the technology, as they were no longer functional throughout the final match of the evening.

Ruzic would ultimately clinch the break to force a decider and an upset seemed to have been brewing when the Croatian pulled ahead for 4-3 in the decider.

However, Osaka regained her composure to fire home back-to-back breaks and seal the crucial victory, setting up a second-round clash against Sorana Cirstea.

Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

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