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.