The controversy that has shaken Wimbledon 2025 centers around a major failure in the tournament’s newly implemented electronic line-calling (ELC) system during a high-stakes fourth-round women’s singles match. For the first time in its history, Wimbledon has replaced human line umpires with a fully automated Hawk-Eye Live system to track whether the ball lands in or out.

However, during the match between Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Britain’s Sonay Kartal, the system failed to detect an out ball at a crucial moment in the first set. This led to confusion, a replayed point, and accusations of the match being unfairly influenced. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the reliability of automated officiating in tennis and whether full automation is stripping the sport of its human elements and fairness.

Human Error Blamed for Hawk-Eye System Shutdown

Wimbledon officials have since confirmed that the disruption was the result of human error. According to a statement from the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (AELTC), the electronic tracking system was mistakenly turned off by Hawk-Eye operators during the match. This error meant that the system failed to make a crucial call when Kartal's backhand landed out, leading to confusion and a controversial point replay.

“Following our review, we have removed the ability for Hawk-Eye operators to manually deactivate the ball tracking,” said the AELTC.

The club added that procedural changes have now been implemented to ensure such an error does not happen again.

Crucial Moment Alters Momentum

The chaos unfolded with Pavlyuchenkova on the verge of winning a game in the first set. When Kartal’s shot went long but wasn’t called “out” by the system, Pavlyuchenkova stopped playing. Umpire Nico Helwerth halted the match after the system blurted “stop, stop,” and made a call to verify its functionality. After confirming that the Hawk-Eye had not tracked the point, Helwerth ordered the rally to be replayed. Kartal won the re-do and broke serve to lead 5-4.

The Russian star was clearly frustrated, telling the umpire at the change of ends:

“You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me.”

Notably, the ELC system missed three out calls during the same game. Two were manually overruled by the umpire, while one went unnoticed due to the system being offline.

AELTC Responds, Players Still Skeptical

The AELTC has since apologized to the players involved and reiterated its confidence in the ball-tracking technology.

“The live ELC system relies on Hawk-Eye operators, the Review Official, and the technology to work in harmony,” the club stated. “This did not happen. In this instance, there was a human error, and as a consequence, we have fully reviewed our processes and made the appropriate changes.”

Helwerth, according to officials, followed the correct process by replaying the point, since no official call could be confirmed. Still, many players feel the system’s flaws have raised questions about whether technology alone should be trusted in critical match situations.

Players Call for a Return to Human Oversight

Pavlyuchenkova, though victorious with a 7-6(3), 6-4 result, expressed disappointment in the reliance on automation.

“It was confusing,” she said. “I think we are losing a little bit of the charm of actually having human beings, ballboys... I think soon we’re just going to play without umpires and have everything automatic.”

She also advocated for a “wire system” akin to football’s goal-line technology, which offers visual evidence for instant verification. The sentiment is echoed by several other players, including Emma Raducanu, who recently labeled the new system “dodgy,” and Belinda Bencic, who confirmed that the technology has become a major talking point in the locker room.

More Tech Troubles: Fritz-Khachanov Match Disrupted

This wasn’t an isolated incident. In Tuesday’s quarterfinal between American Taylor Fritz and Russian Karen Khachanov, the Hawk-Eye system again faltered. While Fritz was serving in the fourth set, the system incorrectly called “fault” mid-rally, prompting umpire Louise Azemar-Engzell to step in. After a brief phone consultation, she asked for the point to be replayed due to a “malfunction,” once again exposing the system’s vulnerability.

The Debate Over Tennis Tech Intensifies

Wimbledon’s shift to full automation was intended to modernize officiating, joining the Australian Open and US Open in embracing AI-driven systems. However, the backlash this week has revealed deep concerns about losing the human element in one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments. As the AELTC races to restore confidence in its systems, the broader tennis world is left grappling with the question: Can technology truly replace the instincts and judgment of trained officials?

The controversy may be technical in nature, but its implications run deep — touching the essence of fairness, tradition, and the soul of the game itself

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