Wimbledon 2025 took a bold leap into the future by fully replacing human line judges with the electronic line-calling system (ELC).
But during a high-stakes fourth-round match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sonay Kartal, the tech faltered—igniting a firestorm of criticism.
Kartal’s backhand clearly landed out, yet the electronic line-calling system remained silent.
The umpire, unaware the system had been accidentally deactivated, ordered the point to be replayed. Pavlyuchenkova lost the point and accused officials of bias, saying the game had been “stolen” from her.
Hawk-Eye System Under Scrutiny
The electronic line-calling system, powered by Hawk-Eye, uses 18 cameras and AI to track ball movement and make automated calls.
While designed for precision, the system failed to register three key calls during the match.
Wimbledon later confirmed the error was due to human oversight, and has since removed the ability to manually deactivate the system.
Players Voice Concerns Over Accuracy
Top British players Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper joined the chorus of skepticism, citing missed calls and a lack of trust in Wimbledon electronic line-calling system.
Raducanu called it “dodgy,” while Draper questioned its millimeter-level accuracy.
Even Taylor Fritz’s quarterfinal match saw a similar glitch, where a “fault” was incorrectly announced mid-point, forcing a replay.
Tradition vs Innovation: Is Tech Killing the Charm?
Pavlyuchenkova lamented the loss of Wimbledon’s human touch, saying,
“We are losing a little bit of the charm of actually having human beings.”
The absence of line judges—once iconic in their Ralph Lauren uniforms—has left courts feeling emptier and more robotic.
The Bigger Picture: Responsible AI in Sports
This incident highlights a broader issue: can AI truly replace human judgment in emotionally charged environments like sport?
Experts argue that while machines offer accuracy, they lack the contextual understanding and fairness that humans bring.
