Wimbledon has been thrown into the spotlight after a major electronic line-calling blunder shook the Centre Court during a fourth-round clash.
Britain’s Sonay Kartal and Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova found themselves at the centre of a technological fiasco when Hawk-Eye, the much-trusted ball-tracking system, suddenly went silent due to human error.
Although officials swiftly explained that an operator had mistakenly deactivated the system for an entire game, the incident raised serious questions. While Kartal’s long backhand at 4-4 should have ended the point, the system merely called “stop” twice, leading umpire Nico Helwerth to replay the moment. Kartal went on to win the point, triggering fierce criticism from Pavlyuchenkova and pundits alike.
In response, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) confirmed they have now removed the option for manual deactivation altogether. They insisted the glitch was purely human-induced and won’t be possible going forward. Nonetheless, the incident reignited calls for the introduction of video review in tennis — much like the VAR system in football — especially as millions watched replays from home while umpires couldn’t intervene.
ALSO READ:
- Wimbledon: Djokovic breaks Federer ‘curse’ in epic comeback victory
- Wimbledon 2025 sees eight top seeds crash out early—What it means for the final eight
- “Hard to take” – Heartbroken Raducanu proud of performance after narrow Wimbledon loss to Sabalenka
- Two-time Wimbledon Champion Kvitova to retire after 19 years on tour
Although the AELTC defended Helwerth’s decision, stating he followed protocol, they hinted that video reviews might soon be up for discussion. Indeed, the end-of-Championship review will likely include this technology gap. Meanwhile, officials clarified that Helwerth’s absence the following day was part of regular umpire rotation, not disciplinary action.
Electronic line calling has replaced traditional challenges at Wimbledon, with operators overseeing feeds from 12 cameras per court. Yet despite claims of increased precision, many players have expressed concerns — from inaudible calls to a nostalgic longing for the old-school line judges.
For many fans and players, the damage is already done. The need for a failsafe system, especially on tennis’ grandest stage, has never been more urgent.
As the tournament continues, the debate lingers. Will Wimbledon embrace video checks, or will tradition continue to trump tech evolution?
Tags: Wimbledon, Hawk-Eye, #Wimbledon2025, All England Lawn Tennis Club, AELTC, Sonay Kartal, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
