Wimbledon’s new electronic line-calling system has faced a rocky start, experiencing an ‘operator error’ and sparking player frustration, leading to swift changes by tournament officials.
Early Glitches on Court
Just days into Wimbledon’s first-ever use of electronic line-calling technology, a significant incident occurred during a match between Britain’s Sonay Kartal and Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. An ‘operator error’ led to the ball-tracking system being unexpectedly turned off for a crucial game on Centre Court.
During a game point, a Kartal backhand appeared to be long, but the electronic system failed to provide an audio call. Chair umpire Nico Helwerth paused play to investigate, eventually announcing the system was “unfortunately unable to track the last point.” Following official protocol, the point was replayed, which Kartal subsequently won.
Player Outcry and Concerns
The incident drew a strong reaction from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who openly voiced her dissent to the umpire. She expressed frustration, stating, “They stole the game from me.” Post-match, Pavlyuchenkova claimed the umpire himself saw the ball out but opted for a replay instead of making the call.
This wasn’t an isolated concern. British star Emma Raducanu also shared her skepticism about the new technology. She highlighted several “very wrong” calls in her matches and admitted she doesn’t trust the system, a sentiment she believes other players share.
Wimbledon’s Swift Response
In response to the “operator error,” the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) swiftly announced a change to the system. “We have now removed the ability for Hawk-Eye operators to manually deactivate the ball tracking,” stated the AELTC. They clarified that while human error was the initial cause, this specific issue cannot happen again due to the system update.
Regarding umpire Nico Helwerth, AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton confirmed he was having a scheduled “rest day.” Bolton emphasized that the umpire had followed all established protocols correctly during the incident, clarifying that his break was routine and not disciplinary.
Understanding the Rules
Under official rules, if the electronic line-calling system fails to make a call, the chair umpire is responsible for determining if the ball was in or out. If the umpire cannot make a clear determination, the point must be replayed. This protocol applies specifically to point-ending shots or situations where play is stopped.
- An ‘operator error’ temporarily turned off electronic line-calling during a Wimbledon match.
- Wimbledon officials immediately updated the system to prevent manual deactivation by operators.
- Players, including Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Emma Raducanu, expressed distrust and frustration over “stolen” or “wrong” calls.
- The umpire involved was confirmed to be on a routine “rest day” and followed correct procedures.
These early challenges highlight the ongoing adaptation required as Grand Slams embrace new technologies, aiming for greater accuracy while navigating unexpected human and technical interactions.
