Written by Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Electronic batting is now commonplace at many tour events and major sports. But this year’s Australian Open leaves one important call to the human umpires.
And that left a few players confused and in disbelief during two weeks down the stretch.
Usually in a tour game, when a break occurs (when the serve hits the net) the machine will make a sound to let everyone know. But this year in Melbourne, let’s call the referees themselves, using their judgment. This is when the players feel as if the ball has hit the net with their eyes or ears.
Both Alexander Zverev again Tommy Paul they complained truthfully after their quarterfinal meeting. Zverev won the match 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1 to reach the semifinals where he will face off next. Novak Djokovic.
Pure relief for Sascha 😮💨#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/mu6vS8lo1I
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
In the first half, a missed call by the referee appeared to confuse both men as Zverev was awarded a point. Paul questioned the referee’s decision, saying: “If you don’t hear that one, or if you see that one, you won’t see him.”
After the game, Paul admitted that the missed call didn’t affect the overall outcome of the game, saying, “It is what it is. That didn’t cost me anything. My unforced error rate was very high.”
Zverev also after the match thought that a call should be made.
“To be honest, the point that Tommy Paul was complaining about was incredibly clear. You know, I didn’t know what to do in that situation. I have to keep playing because if there is no call and I stop playing, then I have lost a point.”
“You know in that situation there is nothing you can do but keep playing. But he was absolutely right, you know. It’s clear let call. I don’t blame the referee too much for it, because it’s not easy to hear, especially if you’re sitting up high. But to me it is completely ridiculous. It’s amazing why we don’t have the Grand Slams mechanism that we had 25 years ago in tennis.”
Earlier in the tournament, the Canadian doubles player Erin Routliffeand his partner Gabriela Dabrowski face each other Beatriz Haddad Maia again Laura Sigemund in the third round. On the stroke of half-time, Haddad Maia shot wide before Routliffe had even returned.
The Canadians thought the serve had cleared the net and were waiting for a replay. However, the chair referee, Julie Kjendlie, thought otherwise and awarded the other team a point. His thinking was that he did not hear permission.
Frustrated, Routliffe shouted, “Oh my God, we have robots everywhere and no internet?” Routliffe and Dabrowski ended up winning the match, but Routliffe’s appeal drew attention Jessica Pegula who also played it on social media.
We have cameras in all the players’ areas and everywhere we turn but we don’t have a net machine? 💀 😂 https://t.co/hsnmFYQIaj
— Jessie Pegula (@JPegula) January 21, 2025
Later Routliffe reposted it on his social media account and added “I feel like I have a point, but why is it so amazing?”
The Australian Open began using all forms of electronic line call (ELC) in 2021 as a way to reduce staff during the Covid-19 crisis. It was the first Grand Slam tournament to do so. The ATP recently announced that the ELC will be implemented at all tour levels of events starting this year.
