Archive July 5, 2025

Players have spoken of their lack of trust in electronic line calling at Wimbledon, with Emma Raducanu branding it “dodgy” and Belinda Bencic saying complaints about the technology are a topic in the locker room.

Britain’s Raducanu was particularly unhappy when a shot from Aryna Sabalenka was judged to have clipped the line midway through the first set of her defeat by the world number one on Friday.

“That call was for sure out,” Raducanu said after a closely-fought 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 loss where she went toe-to-toe with the top seed for much of the match.

“It’s kind of disappointing that the calls can be so wrong, but for the most part they’ve been OK. I’ve had a few in my other matches, too, that have been very wrong. Hopefully they can fix that. “

Wimbledon replaced line judges this year with the technology, which is being used at many other top-level tournaments, including the US Open and Australian Open.

Swiss player Bencic said she was usually a fan of electronic line calling but that at this tournament “it’s not correct”.

“I also don’t trust it,” she said. “Of course, you feel a little bit stupid questioning an electronic line call, but of course it always depends how it’s installed and how accurate it is.

“It’s not only me, you know. I feel like I’m watching other matches too, and I see players like saying the exact same thing, complaining. Or even on TV, you can see clearly some balls are out or long or something.

“We players talk about it and I think most of us have the same opinion. “

British men’s number one Jack Draper has also questioned the technology, saying after his second-round defeat by Marin Cilic on Thursday: “I don’t think it’s 100% accurate, in all honesty.

“A couple of the ones today it showed a mark on the court. There’s no way the chalk would have showed. “

Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, said she was confident in the accuracy of the electronic line calling and in the decision to bring it in.

“It’s funny, isn’t it, because when we did have linesmen, we were constantly asked why we didn’t have electronic line calling because it’s more accurate than they do the rest of the tour,” she told BBC Sport on Saturday.

“The players wanted it because they were asking us, why do we have linesmen? Because of potential human error. And now we have it in situ.

“We have to think of innovation and we’re just moving with what the court and mostly what the players expect. “

It is not just the accuracy of the automated ‘out’ calls that have been questioned this week, with players saying they have also been too quiet.

Raducanu said she had not been able to hear all of the calls during her match against Sabalenka on Centre Court, where the roof was closed and the partisan fans were noisy during a gripping encounter.

“Some of them were a little bit quiet or dulled out by the crowd,” she added. “But overall you kind of have an idea if the ball was in or out. And then hope that Hawk-Eye calls it the same. “

Sabalenka agreed, adding: “It was quite loud and I think people also weren’t sure if it’s in or out. So there was a little pause and then they figured [it out] by the scoreboard. “

Jevans said the volume of the calls could be turned up but that there were no plans to do so at present.

“It’s a balance because if the stadiums full or not full, it makes a difference,” she said. “I know the team is looking at it but haven’t yet made a decision to increase the volume. Yesterday I could hear the calls. “

When there were human line judges, players could challenge the calls by using electronic reviews, which were shown on a big screen. Now the screens show replays of close calls but they can not be overruled.

Raducanu said she thought the Hawk-Eye electronic line calling system “was way more accurate back in the day when there were lines judges and you could challenge”.

Emma Raducanu says she does not trust the electronic line-calling at Wimbledon, pointing to “dodgy” calls in her defeat by world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

The Briton was particularly unhappy when a shot from the Belarusian was judged to have clipped the line midway through the first set.

“That call was for sure out,” Raducanu said after a closely-fought 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 loss where she went toe-to-toe with the top seed for much of the match.

“It’s kind of disappointing that the calls can be so wrong, but for the most part they’ve been OK. I’ve had a few in my other matches, too, that have been very wrong. Hopefully they can fix that. “

Wimbledon replaced line judges this year with the technology, which is being used at many other top-level tournaments, including the US Open and Australian Open.

Asked if she trusted the electronic line calls, Raducanu replied: “No, I don’t – I think the other players would say the same thing, there were some pretty dodgy ones but what can you do? “

Raducanu is not the only player to question the accuracy of the system, with British men’s number one Jack Draper saying after his second-round defeat by Marin Cilic on Thursday: “I don’t think it’s 100% accurate, in all honesty.

“A couple of the ones today it showed a mark on the court. There’s no way the chalk would have showed. “

Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, said she was confident in the accuracy of the electronic line calling and in the decision to bring it in.

“It’s funny, isn’t it, because when we did have linesmen, we were constantly asked why we didn’t have electronic line calling because it’s more accurate than they do the rest of the tour,” she told BBC Sport on Saturday.

“The players wanted it because they were asking us, why do we have linesmen? Because of potential human error. And now we have it in situ.

It is not just the accuracy of the automated ‘out’ calls that have been questioned this week, with players saying they have also been too quiet.

Raducanu said she had not been able to hear all of the calls during her match against Sabalenka on Centre Court, where the roof was closed and the partisan fans were noisy during a gripping encounter.

“Some of them were a little bit quiet or dulled out by the crowd,” she added. “But overall you kind of have an idea if the ball was in or out. And then hope that Hawk-Eye calls it the same. “

Sabalenka agreed, adding: “It was quite loud and I think people also weren’t sure if it’s in or out. So there was a little pause and then they figured [it out] by the scoreboard. “

Jevans said the volume of the calls could be turned up but that there were no plans to do so at present.

“It’s a balance because if the stadiums full or not full, it makes a difference,” she said. “I know the team is looking at it but haven’t yet made a decision to increase the volume. Yesterday I could hear the calls. “

When there were human line judges, players could challenge the calls by using electronic reviews, which were shown on a big screen. Now the screens show replays of close calls but they can not be overruled.

Raducanu said she thought the Hawk-Eye electronic line calling system “was way more accurate back in the day when there were lines judges and you could challenge”.

Russell Martin says Rangers are “at a disadvantage” in their team building because they play so early in Champions League qualifying – but the head coach expects to be “so pleased” with new signings anticipated “in the next week or two”.

The Scottish Premiership runners-up have bought centre-half Emmanuel Fernandez from Peterborough and midfielder Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth, from whom right-back Max Aarons has also been signed on loan.

Midfielder Lyall Cameron’s arrival from Dundee had been arranged before Martin’s appointment this summer.

The former Southampton manager told Rangers TV he is “so pleased” with the close-season additions and said: “The ones we think will be coming into the building in the next week or two, we’ll be so pleased with them and we still need some help.

Rangers, who play Club Brugge in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, start their competitive campaign at home to Panathinaikos in just over two weeks time.

“We’re also at a disadvantage because we play so early in Europe. We are trying to work when everyone else is on holiday,” Martin said.

The former Scotland and Rangers defender outlined his requirements for new arrivals.

“People need to be desperate to play for this club and not just be an option and one of a few options,” Martin explained.

“We have to be ready to win early, but we also need to be in a position to help the whole football club with players who can come here, develop whilst winning, and be good business. Every club has to look at that model. “

Football ability would not be enough to convince Martin a player is right for Rangers.

“Can you come here and add to us as a group in terms of your behaviour, the way you train, the way you work and who you are as a human being, your willingness to play in a way that we want to, which is not for everyone because it’s not easy? ” he added.