Wimbledon’s Automated Line-Calling System Sparks Controversy After Critical Error Costs Pavlyuchenkova a Key Point

The 2025 Wimbledon Championships have been rocked by controversy surrounding the new automated line-calling system, which replaced human line judges for the first time in the tournament’s history.

During a high-stakes Round of 16 match, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova faced a pivotal moment when the technology failed to properly track a ball hit by her opponent Sonay Kartal. Despite video replays showing the ball was clearly out, the automated system did not register it, prompting a replay of the point.

Serving for the game at 4-4 in the opening set, Pavlyuchenkova stopped play after Kartal hit the ball long. However, the system initially failed to call it out, leading to confusion and a delayed announcement by an automated voice.

Chair umpire Nico Helwerth consulted tournament officials and ultimately ruled the point had to be replayed due to the technological glitch. Pavlyuchenkova, visibly upset, accused organizers of bias toward her British opponent, declaring, “You stole the game from me.”

Despite the incident, Pavlyuchenkova rallied to win the match 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 and advance to the quarterfinals. Yet, her frustration continued post-match as she criticized tournament officials for not intervening sooner and questioned the growing reliance on technology over human judgment.

“I thought the chair umpire could take the initiative,” she said. “Otherwise, soon we’ll play without them [umpires], and everything will be automatic… We’re losing the charm of having human line judges.”

The All England Club apologized for the error, stating, “There was a human error and as a consequence, we have fully reviewed our processes and made the appropriate changes.” They reaffirmed confidence in the ball tracking technology overall.

Fans and players alike have expressed disappointment and concern over the new system. Comments on social media criticized the decision to replay the point and the lack of umpire discretion, with some calling the situation a “disgrace” and “embarrassing for Wimbledon.”

Prominent players such as Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have also voiced doubts about the accuracy of the automated line-calling system.

The controversy highlights the challenges of balancing tradition and technology at one of tennis’s most prestigious tournaments.