Zverev given warning after photo to dispute ball mark

In a further electric line-calling controversy on clay, top seed Alexander Zverev was warned for taking a picture of a contested ball mark at the Madrid Open.

The world number two overcame Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 2-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-0) to reach the last 16.

However, the success was hampered by a second row, as Zverev was adamant that his opponent’s backhand in the tenth game of the second set had gone wide.

After the electronic system called in, the German informed the umpire that there was a “malfunction in the system.”

Zverev took a picture of the mark when his appeals failed and he took his phone out of his bag.

Although the system has been used on other surfaces, clay events had largely persisted when calls were contested and were primarily contested with line judges or the umpire taking the ball’s mark back out of his or her chair.

However, line judges have been removed from many WTA Tour events and from all ATP Tour events this season.

Line judges will continue with the French Open, which will begin next month.

Following the recent controversy surrounding the controversial line-calling that occurred earlier this month, world number one Aryna Sabalenka received a warning for taking a photo during a match in Stuttgart, and former world number one Victoria Azarenka posted an image of a call from another Madrid game on social media.

Andrey Rublev, the defending champion, lost to Alexander Bublik 6-4,0-6, 6-4 in the Spanish capital, dropping the Russian out of the top 15.

Elise Mertens defeated top seed Sabalenka 6-1 to win the women’s draw, beating her with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

However, Jasmine Paolini, the opponent’s sixth seed, and third-seeded Jessica Pegula, both received nods.