Pat Cash calls for 'emergency solution' after 'ridiculous' decision at Wimbledon
Wimbledon organisers issued an apology after the electronic line calling – brought in to replace line judges – was mistakenly turned off during a match on Centre Court.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova fumed that a game had been 'stolen' from her against Great Britain's Sonay Kartal after hawk-eye failed to call 'out' to a ball that was clearly long.
Pavlyuchenkova, who was closing in on the first set at the time, stopped as she was rightly convinced the ball was long and chair umpire Nico Helwerth halted play.
Despite video replays confirming the ball was out, Helwerth ordered the point to be replayed and Kartal ended up winning it and the game to break.
At the changeover, a frustrated Pavlyuchenkova told the umpire: 'You took the game away from me. They stole the game from me. They stole it.'
Wimbledon said ELC had been 'deactivated on the point in question because of an operator error'.
It later emerged that the technology was deactivated on that side of the court for an entire game, meaning three calls were not picked up.
'We have apologised to the players involved,' a spokesperson for the All England Club said. 'We continue to have full confidence in the accuracy of the ball tracking technology.
'In this instance, there was a human error and as a consequence we have fully reviewed our processes and made the appropriate changes.'
Australian tennis icon Cash, a champion here in 1987, described the situation as 'absolutely ridiculous' and was confused why the umpire did not trust his judgement and call the ball out.
The 60-year-old also called for an 'emergency solution' to be put in place in case of further issues with hawk-eye, which is now used at three of the four Grand Slams.
While line judges are no longer used at Wimbledon, 80 of the former employees are still at matches around the All England Club in case the technology fails and they are required to take to the court.
'Absolutely ridiculous,' Cash said on BBC One when he was asked for his take on the incident. 'That ball was clearly out.
'It was a huge moment in the match for both of their careers. The chair umpire is there for that reason, it was clearly out, how could he not call it out and sort out the situation at the change of ends?
'It's mind-boggling. That's what he's there for, they don't need to do much anymore. Everyone basically stopped but because the machine didn't call out they didn't go with it.
'The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation,' Wimbledon chief executive Sally Bolton said.
'Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating.
'For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.
'We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously.
'Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.'
'It was so far out and it was game point. It was a huge point and it was right in front of his face. What else are they doing? Not a lot.
'You know I have a love-hate relationship with chair umpires. It can still be the chair umpire's decision.
'We need to have an emergency thing [in place] if that happens again. It everything goes does, what happens? Does the whole tournament stop?
'It was a minor failure, it's not like the whole system went down, but they'll come up with an emergency solution for that I'm sure. And get rid of the chair umpire altogether.'
The mishap put Kartal ahead in the opening set but Pavlyuchenkova showed admirable resolve to break back and then take the first set in a tie break.
The former world number 11 went on to win the second set and book herself in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon at the expense of Britain's world number 51 Kartal. More Trending
Asked for her take on the technical glitch, Pavlyuchenkova said: 'That's why he [the umpire] is there, no? He also saw it out, he told me after the match.
'I thought he would do that, but he didn't. Instead they just said replay. I don't know if it's something to do [with Kartal being] local. I think it's also difficult for him. He probably was scared to take such a big decision.'
The embarrassing error on Centre Court came after British number ones Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper both complained about inaccurate calls following their exits.
Hawk-eye is used at all ATP events and most WTA tournaments. The French Open is the only Grand Slam yet to embrace the new technology.
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