Tennis Star Calls Out ‘Wrong’ Electric Line-Calling System in Madrid

Elena Rybakina said she does not trust the electronic line-calling system after a controversial ruling against her at the Madrid Open.

During Rybakina’s Round of 32 match Sunday at the Madrid Open, her opponent Qinwen Zheng was awarded an ace in the second set at 30–0 despite the ball appearing to be out. Zheng was ahead by a set, and was trying to hold serve to level the second set at 4. 

Rybakina pleaded to umpire Julie Kjendlie that the clay court showed a mark that could prove that the ball landed past the line.

“The system is wrong,” Rybakina told Kjendlie. “This is not a joke. … It is absolutely wrong.” 

But the umpire said she had to adhere to the ruling of the system and could not step down from her seat to check the mark.

“How it looks there and how it is usually looks different,” Kjendlie said. “That is the mark, but I cannot go down.”

Umpires are not allowed to overturn the call of the electronic line-calling system. A similar issue occurred last year when Alexander Zverev asked the umpire to check a call at the 1000-level event, but the umpire insisted there was nothing he could do.

Rybakina told reporters after the match that she will not be able to trust the system.

 “Well with this thing, I won’t trust it at all,” Rybakina said. “Because there was no mark even close to what the TV showed.”

The Madrid Open uses the Hawk-Eye system for its electronic line-calling, the same technology used at the Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon. The French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay, will continue to have human line judges this year. 

Hawk-Eye, which is owned by Sony, and the Madrid Open did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wimbledon used the system for the first time last year and faced significant challenges and pushback from players.

British men’s star Jack Draper said he didn’t think the system was “100% accurate,” and fellow Brit Emma Raducanu said she hopes the tournament can fix the system’s errors.

Viral Stomach Bug

Adding more drama to the Madrid Open, a stomach virus has caused several players to withdraw or retire from the tournament. 

Coco Gauff vomited on the court during her third round win over Sorana Cirstea on Sunday. “I think I got the Madrid stomach virus that’s going around,” Gauff said. “I’m usually someone who doesn’t get sick. My luck today just wasn’t good.”

Women’s world No. 3 Iga Świątek retired in the third set of her third-round match against Ann Li on Saturday, while Liudmila Samsonov and men’s player Marin Čilić have also retired due to sickness.

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