Raducanu Slams Automatic Line-Calling After Loss To Sabalenka At Wimbledon
NewsSunday, 06 July 2025 at 17:48
Emma Raducanu made startling comments about the automatic line-calling system after her loss to Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.
The automated system is being used for the first time at this year's Wimbledon, replacing the line judges that had been a feature of the iconic tournament since its inception in 1877.
Line judges being replaced is becoming the norm across ATP and WTA tournaments. Proponents of the change provide understandable rationales for the change, including fewer mistakes and controversies.
The creators of the technology used for automatic line-calling say the system is very accurate. However, that has not stopped some players from disliking the move or claiming the system makes many mistakes.
Raducanu became the latest to be left unhappy by calls that she thought were obviously wrong. The 2021 US Open champion pointed to one shot from Sabalenka that looked out to her and other examples in previous matches.
"That call was for sure out. 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."
From Raducanu's perspective, it was not a question or possibility. She was absolutely certain the calls were wrong and is frustrated that the system, brought in to improve accuracy, makes errors.
Playing WTA world No. 1 Sabalenka is challenging enough. Attempting to overcome her with bad calls from the line-calling system makes it even harder and can knock the wind out of a player's sails.
The automatic line-calling caused even more controversy in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's battle with Sonay Kartal on Sunday on Centre Court. At 4-4, AD-40 in Pavlyuchenkova's favor, a shot from Kartal clearly landed out.
However, the line-calling system did not go off, and the umpire stopped the point. It seemed obvious that those behind the scenes would look at a replay of how far the ball landed out and award Pavlyuchenkova the point.
Instead, the point was replayed because of the line-calling system malfunctioning. The controversy heightened when Kartal won that game, with Pavlyuchenkova understandably telling the umpire she had been robbed of a game.
Pavlycuehnkova's reaction to that setback was incredible. She broke the home favorite back and went on to win the set on a tiebreak. The 2021 French Open runner-up raised her level even more in the second to triumph 7-6, 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz has embraced a different kind of technology. The two-time defending men's singles champion at Wimbledon wears a chest patch that monitors his hydration and sweat levels, which has been particularly helpful due to the hot weather in London.
Alcaraz also used it against Jannik Sinner in their memorable 2025 Roland Garros final. That extraordinary battle lasted 5 hours and 29 minutes, and the Spaniard managing his hydration levels perfectly is a small detail that might have proved crucial in his victory.
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