Watch: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fumes after major line call error at Wimbledon

Oli Dickson Jefford
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

The role of electronic line calling at Wimbledon and other tennis events is under further scrutiny after a shocking error in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s SW19 clash versus Sonay Kartal.

In an already tense fourth-round clash inside Centre Court, world No 50 Pavlyuchenkova was the victim of a major electronic line call mistake in the ninth game of the match.

Serving in a tight game at 4-4 in the first set, the Russian held a game point and appeared to stop mid-rally after one of Kartal’s groundstrokes, before the automated line-calling system called out: “Stop, stop.”

Kartal’s forehand initially looked out at first sight, and close-up replays confirmed this was the case, with an operational error thought to be responsible for the lack of line call.

Umpire Nico Helwerth told Kartal before the start of the delay that he had seen the ball sail long, and he then attempted to clarify the situation with the operators.

However, despite the clear evidence that Kartal had missed the point, the point was not given to Pavlyuchenkova but instead replayed.

The former French Open finalist would have won the game had she been awarded the point, but ultimately went on to lose the game – with Kartal handed the chance to serve for the set.

Wimbledon News

Stunning Emma Raducanu TV viewing figures cement surge in Wimbledon interest

Raducanu -5, Sabalenka surges, Paolini -3: WTA Rankings Wimbledon Week 1 Winners & Losers

While Pavlyuchenkova had kept her call in the initial aftermath of the decision, she fumed towards German umpire Helwerth at the resulting change of ends.

“I don’t know if it was in or out, I don’t know. You cannot prove it,” vented Pavlyuchenkova, in regards to the decision to replay the point.

“Because she’s local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me. They stole a game from me. They stole it.”

Kartal held a set point when attempting to serve the opener out, though there was arguably a sense of justice done when Pavlyuchenkova broke back and ultimately took the first set in a tiebreak.

While this has been the most obvious and controversial error at this year’s Wimbledon, several players have been critical of the system at the All England Club, which is being used in place of line judges for the first time this year.

Among those critical was Emma Raducanu, who was unhappy with a call in her third-round defeat to Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.

“That call was for sure out,” claimed Raducanu. “It’s kind of disappointing, the tournament here, that the calls can be so wrong, but for the most part, they’ve been okay.

“It’s just, like, I’ve had a few in my other matches, too, that have been very wrong. So yeah, I don’t know. Hopefully, they can kind of fix that.”

Read Next: The 10 greatest Wimbledon women’s singles champions of the Open Era – ranked!

Related Articles