Controversy erupts as line-calling system turns off at Wimbledon

The fourth-round match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and home favourite Sonay Kartal was marked by significant drama. The line-calling system momentarily malfunctioned on Centre Court as Pavlyuchenkova fought for a crucial point in her Round of 16 Wimbledon clash. While the seasoned player managed to clinch victory in the thriller, the Russian accused the All England Club of home bias. Pavlyuchenkova even claimed that the error had stolen the game from her. The line-calling system, which has adopted an advanced AI-enhanced approach, has come under scrutiny from some players.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova accuses All England Club of 'home bias' as error mars her Wimbledon clash with Sonay Kartal

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova found herself in a nail-biting clash against local favourite Sonay Kartal on Centre Court in the fourth-round Wimbledon clash. With both players trading two breaks each, the set was hurtling toward an intense tie-break. But the tension reached new heights during the ninth game, when Pavlyuchenkova was serving. Having just saved three break points, Pavlyuchenkova looked on course to hold serve and inch ahead at 5-4. That’s when Kartal unleashed a shot that sailed well past the baseline, clearly out. However, the automated line-calling system lagged, issuing the stop signal several seconds too late.

Pavlyuchenkova, who was positioned far behind the baseline, hesitated mid-point, expecting an immediate out call. But with the delayed ruling disrupting play at a crucial moment, the situation grew tense. Umpire Nico Helwerth consulted the line-calling officials via phone as both players looked on, awaiting clarity. However, the outcome of the confusion was the umpire calling for the players to replay the point. 

Although replays clearly confirmed that Kartal’s shot was out, the ruling didn’t go in Pavlyuchenkova’s favour. The 34-year-old Russian was visibly upset. She had another chance to close the game but couldn’t capitalise, allowing Kartal to break and edge ahead. While Pavlyuchekova played the point again, the Russian seed expressed her frustration at the error during the changeover.

“I don’t know if it’s in or it’s out. How do I know? You cannot prove it, because she’s local they can say whatever. You took the game away from me,” Pavlyuchenkova said after Kartal won the point. “They have stolen the game from me, they stole it.

Despite the setback and the questionable decision, Pavlyuchenkova held her nerve and fought back to claim the first set 7-6 (7-3). Speaking after the match, she revealed that even the chair umpire quietly acknowledged that the ball had indeed landed out. The Russian further expressed her belief that the delayed call might be a result of home bias in favour of her opponent, Kartal.

“It was very confusing. The umpire also saw it out. I expected him to take initiative, that’s what he’s there for, but he didn’t. Maybe it’s because she’s local, I don’t know... but that was a crucial moment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the All England Club apologised for the mishap later on. The club defended the technology, adapted right ahead of this season and put it on a human error. Notably, the reliance of the calls entirely on the technology has been criticised by multiple players including the home seed, Emma Raducanu earlier in the season.

 “We have apologised to the players involved. We continue to have full confidence in the accuracy of the ball-tracking technology. However, there was a human error in this instance, and we’ve made appropriate changes," the All England Club stated in its explanation.