A recent glitch in Wimbledon’s new electronic line-calling system forced a point to be replayed during the men’s singles quarterfinal between Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov.
Another Glitch on Centre Court
The incident unfolded on Court No. 1 during the opening game of the fourth set. After a service from Taylor Fritz, and following an exchange of shots, a random “fault” call disrupted play.
Chair umpire Louise Azemar-Engzell quickly stepped in, announcing that the last point would be replayed due to a system malfunction. Fritz was visibly confused by the unexpected call.
Understanding the Error
The All England Club later clarified the cause of the unusual interruption. The electronic system had mistakenly tracked Fritz’s shot during the rally as if it were a serve.
This error occurred because Fritz’s service motion began while a ball person was still crossing the net. As a result, the system failed to correctly recognize the start of the point.
Players Take It in Stride
Despite the unusual re-do, both players remained remarkably calm. Khachanov, who ultimately won the replayed point, admitted the timing was key to their composure.
He noted that if the malfunction had happened during a more critical moment, like a break point or a tie-breaker, their reactions might have been very different. Fortunately, it was just the beginning of the set.
Fifth-seeded Fritz went on to win the match, defeating Khachanov 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4), securing his spot in the semifinals.
A Pattern of Problems
This isn’t the first hiccup for Wimbledon’s newly implemented electronic line-calling technology. The tournament, celebrating its 148th year, opted for this system for the first time, and it has already faced a series of issues.
Just days prior, an “operator error” led to the ball-tracking technology being turned off for an entire game during a women’s singles match. That incident even saw the umpire involved taking a rest day.
Wimbledon’s Swift Response
Following a review of these incidents, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) announced immediate changes to the system. They have removed the ability for Hawk-Eye operators to manually deactivate the ball tracking.
In a statement to BBC Sport, the AELTC confirmed that while the root cause of the previous issue was human error, the system modifications now prevent such an error from recurring. This aims to ensure smoother gameplay moving forward.
- Wimbledon’s new electronic line-calling system experienced a malfunction, forcing a point to be replayed.
- The system incorrectly identified a rally shot as a serve due to a ball person crossing the net.
- This is one of several issues with the new technology, including a previous “operator error.”
- Wimbledon has responded by removing the manual deactivation feature for Hawk-Eye operators.
These adjustments highlight the ongoing efforts to fine-tune technology in live sports, ensuring fairness and accuracy in high-stakes matches.
