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Wimbledon 2025 Plunged into Chaos as AI Line Judge Error Sparks Controversy in Kartal-Pavlyuchenkova Clash

London, July 6, 2025 – Wimbledon, the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, descended into controversy on Sunday as a critical failure in its new AI-powered line-calling system disrupted a fourth-round women’s singles match between Britain’s Sonay Kartal and Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The incident, which saw a blatantly out ball go uncalled, prompted Pavlyuchenkova to accuse officials of pro-British bias, reigniting debates over the tournament’s decision to replace human line judges with automated technology. The drama unfolded just days after British star Emma Raducanu publicly criticized the system’s reliability, casting a shadow over Wimbledon’s embrace of innovation.

The incident occurred on Centre Court during a tightly contested first set, with the score tied at 4-4 and Pavlyuchenkova holding an advantage on her serve. Kartal, a rising British star ranked No. 50, fired a forehand that landed well beyond the baseline—by some estimates, at least a foot out. To the astonishment of players, officials, and spectators, the Hawk-Eye-based Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system failed to register the ball as out, allowing play to continue. Pavlyuchenkova, visibly stunned, hesitated, expecting the call, while chair umpire Nico Helwerth intervened mid-rally, shouting “Stop! Stop!” to halt the point.

What followed was a four-minute delay that turned Centre Court into a scene of confusion and frustration. Helwerth, consulting via his courtside phone with review officials, determined that the ELC system had suffered a technical glitch and was “unable to track the last point.” Citing tournament rules, he ordered the point to be replayed, a decision that drew jeers from the crowd and an explosive reaction from Pavlyuchenkova. “They stole the game from me!” the former French Open finalist fumed, directing her anger at Helwerth. “Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me.

”Pavlyuchenkova’s accusation of pro-British bias struck a nerve, amplifying existing tensions around Wimbledon’s adoption of AI technology. The All England Club made the historic decision in October 2024 to eliminate its 147-year tradition of human line judges, replacing them with an AI-enhanced Hawk-Eye system for 2025. The move aligned Wimbledon with the Australian Open and US Open, which have used automated systems for years, but it has faced relentless scrutiny. Sally Bolton, the All England Club’s Chief Executive, had defended the switch, claiming the technology was “sufficiently robust” for “maximum accuracy.” Sunday’s fiasco, however, suggested otherwise.

The controversy was further fueled by recent criticisms from British players. Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, had slammed the ELC system as “dodgy” after her third-round loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on July 4. In her post-match press conference, Raducanu highlighted multiple erroneous calls, stating, “It’s kind of disappointing, the tournament here, that the calls can be so wrong. I’ve had a few in my other matches, too, that have been very wrong.” Similarly, British No. 1 Jack Draper, after his second-round defeat to Marin Cilic, questioned the system’s accuracy, noting, “I don’t think it’s 100% accurate in all honesty. It’s millimetres.

”Pavlyuchenkova’s grievances echoed these sentiments. Had the out call been made, she likely would have secured the game, potentially altering the set’s outcome. Instead, the replayed point allowed Kartal to stay in contention. Despite her frustration, Pavlyuchenkova regained her composure, winning the first set 7-6(3) and ultimately the match 7-6(3), 6-4, advancing to the quarterfinals. Kartal, gracious in defeat, acknowledged the incident’s rarity, saying, “It’s unfortunate for me. I felt like I hit the backhand clean… The umpire handled it fine. The fairest way was to replay the point.”

The All England Club issued a brief statement attributing the error to “operator error” that caused the system to be “deactivated” during the point in question. “The chair umpire followed the established process,” a spokesperson said, offering no further details on potential fixes. Tournament director Jamie Baker, defending the ELC system, emphasized its widespread use across the ATP and WTA tours and its certification for accuracy. Yet, players and coaches have raised concerns about its performance on grass courts, with some suggesting it is less reliable than on hard courts like those in New York or Melbourne.

The incident was not an isolated one. Earlier in the tournament, players like Jelena Ostapenko and Yuan Yue reported issues with the system, including inaudible calls and confusion over automated decisions. Even high-profile players like Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev have criticized ELC systems at other tournaments, with Zverev posting photographic evidence of a questionable call in Madrid. At Wimbledon, the absence of human line judges—who numbered 300 in previous years—has also sparked nostalgia among fans and players, with Marin Cilic lamenting their removal.

For Kartal, the match marked the end of a remarkable run. The 23-year-old, supported by the LTA Pro Scholarship Programme, reached the fourth round for the first time, defeating No. 20 seed Jelena Ostapenko and France’s Diane Parry en route. Her performance solidified her status as a British talent to watch, though the controversy overshadowed her exit. Pavlyuchenkova, meanwhile, moves on to face either Amanda Anisimova or Linda Noskova, carrying the weight of her outspoken critique.

As Wimbledon 2025 progresses, the ELC debacle has raised urgent questions about the balance between tradition and technology. With players like Raducanu, Draper, and now Pavlyuchenkova voicing distrust, and fans mourning the loss of pinstripe-clad line judges, the All England Club faces pressure to address the system’s flaws. For now, the tournament continues under a cloud of skepticism, with the promise of accuracy giving way to accusations of bias and error.