Elena Rybakina voiced strong frustration with the electronic line-calling system at the Madrid Open after a controversial decision during her hard-fought win over Zheng Qinwen.
The incident occurred in the second set when Zheng was awarded an ace, despite Rybakina believing the ball had clearly landed out. The Kazakh immediately challenged the call, pointing to a visible mark on the clay and asking umpire Julie Kjendlie to inspect it. However, under current rules, the official could not override the electronic system, leaving Rybakina visibly upset.
“This system is wrong,” Rybakina insisted during the exchange, adding that she could not trust it after seeing what she believed was clear evidence on the court that contradicted the call. She later described the moment as “a stolen point,” highlighting her frustration at being unable to challenge the decision effectively.
The controversy mirrors a similar incident involving Alexander Zverev at last year’s Madrid Open, where he also questioned the reliability of the technology after a disputed call.
Despite the setback, Rybakina showed resilience, regrouping to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and secure her place in the next round. Her comments are likely to reignite debate about the reliability of electronic line-calling on clay courts, where visible ball marks have traditionally been used to settle disputes.
