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Rybakina Says She No Longer Trusts Electronic Line Calls After Madrid Dispute

The episode on clay highlighted that live automation prevents umpires from inspecting marks.

Overview

  • In her Madrid Open win over Zheng Qinwen, the live system called a serve an ace at 4-3 in the second set even though a ball mark on the clay appeared out.
  • Rybakina pointed to the mark and confronted chair umpire Julie Kjendlie about the call.
  • Kjendlie told her she could not leave the chair to check the mark and that protocol required her to accept the electronic decision.
  • Rybakina recovered to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last 16, then said she no longer trusts the technology because the TV graphic did not match any visible mark.
  • Madrid uses full electronic line calling with no line judges or on-court mark checks, and repeat disputes like those involving Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka have renewed scrutiny of its reliability on clay.