
Emma Raducanu questions accuracy of Wimbledon’s electronic line calling system
2025-07-05 12:45- Emma Raducanu lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon 2023.
- Raducanu criticized the automated line calling system for making incorrect rulings during her match.
- Players are calling for improvements to the technology as it is impacting match outcomes.
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In July 2023, during the prestigious Wimbledon Championships held in the United Kingdom, professional women's tennis player Emma Raducanu faced off against Aryna Sabalenka in a tightly contested match that concluded in a 7-6 (6), 6-4 defeat for Raducanu. This year marked a significant change at Wimbledon as the tournament implemented a fully automated electronic line calling system, eliminating traditional human line judges for the first time. This transition has fueled debates regarding the reliability and accuracy of such technology, especially under high-pressure match situations. Raducanu expressed her disappointment following her loss, pointing out that the electronic system made several errors, including a critical call where a Sabalenka serve was ruled in when it had seemingly missed the line. She firmly stated, "That call was for sure out," highlighting her frustration with the apparent inaccuracies in the technology's judgments. Although she acknowledged that most calls during the tournament had been acceptable, she insisted that the errors were significant enough to impact the outcome of her match and posited that improvements to the system are necessary for the future of the sport. Jack Draper, another prominent British player, also voiced his concerns about the accuracy of the new system after his own match against Marin Cilic earlier in the tournament. Draper remarked on a serve where the electronic technology displayed a chalk mark that he believed would not be realistically present if the call had been accurate. His remarks, alongside Raducanu's vocal discontent, reflect a collective skepticism toward the reliance on automated systems in professional tennis, raising questions about the technology's ability to enhance or hinder gameplay. The reactions from Raducanu and Draper underscore a growing tension between technological advancement and traditional methods in sports officiating. While electronic systems have been adopted widely across many tennis tournaments around the world, including the Australian Open and the US Open, the French Open remains an anomaly, continuing to rely on human judges. The incidents in Wimbledon have sparked discussions about the integrity of sport and the effectiveness of technology in making definitive calls during crucial moments. As the tennis community evaluates these changes, Raducanu intends to use the challenges faced as motivation to strengthen her game for future competitions.