Wimbledon 2025 has announced a key change to its officiating protocol following a controversial incident involving the new electronic line-calling system. The tournament, which for the first time in history replaced all human line judges with Hawk-Eye Live technology, faced backlash after a Round of 16 match was disrupted due to a system failure.

The incident occurred during a match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Britain’s Sonay Kartal, where the Hawk-Eye Live system was unintentionally deactivated for three consecutive points. As a result, a clearly out ball hit by Kartal went uncalled, and the chair umpire, unaware of the glitch, ordered a replay. This led to a shift in momentum that cost Pavlyuchenkova a game, though she eventually won the match. The event drew criticism from players, fans, and analysts, raising questions about the reliability of full automation in officiating.

In response, Wimbledon officials acknowledged the error and confirmed it was not a failure of the technology itself but a human oversight. A system operator had mistakenly shut off a part of the line-calling system during play. Tournament CEO Sally Bolton issued an official apology and assured fans that new measures were being implemented. These include a software fail-safe to prevent manual deactivation and stricter oversight protocols to avoid similar issues in the future.

The transition from traditional line judges to fully electronic systems has stirred mixed reactions. Some players, such as Aryna Sabalenka and John McEnroe, have praised the precision and consistency of automated calls. Others, including Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper, expressed concern over the lack of clear audio cues and occasional delays in call confirmation. Spectators, too, noted the absence of visual signals from line judges, which previously added to the drama and flow of live matches.

Wimbledon’s swift action aims to restore confidence in its officiating while embracing modern advancements. The organizers remain committed to using technology to enhance fairness and reduce human error, but this incident underlines the ongoing need for human oversight in high-stakes environments. As the tournament continues, the balance between innovation and tradition remains in focus.