During a live broadcast at Wimbledon 2025, John McEnroe clashed with commentator Andrew Castle over the tournament’s new line-call system after a controversial moment involving Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The former American tennis star’s criticism came amid a dramatic incident on Centre Court in Pavlyuchenkova’s fourth-round match against Britain’s Sonay Kartal, highlighting ongoing debate about the accuracy and fairness of replacing human line judges with electronic calls.

This year marked a significant change at Wimbledon when the tournament abandoned over 140 years of using line judges in favor of a full electronic line-calling system powered by Hawk-Eye technology. The algorithm-based system has faced backlash from players, commentators, and fans due to questionable calls and technical failures, raising concerns about its reliability and the impact on match outcomes.

Debate Over Technology Between McEnroe and Castle on Live Broadcast

On the BBC, McEnroe and Castle engaged in a tense exchange discussing the controversial situation. McEnroe, known for his vocal objections to umpire decisions throughout his career, presented himself as an expert on such disputes and cast doubt on the new system’s precision. He suggested that the technology might not be as flawless as claimed.

“The thing is, it needs to be right. I think they [hawk-eye] have said it’s plus or minus 3mm but is that for sure? Who’s done the testing?” —John McEnroe, Former Tennis Champion

Castle defended the Hawk-Eye system by emphasizing that it builds on the same technology players used during challenges in previous tournaments, which received little criticism. He argued that complaints usually come from players who lost points due to electronic calls rather than issues with the system itself.

“It is accurate. It’s only people that lose that say, I didn’t think that was right. You know, come on. Maybe on clay it’s different and maybe it’s still not perfect.” —Andrew Castle, Tennis Commentator

“If it’s accurate, I’m all for it.” —John McEnroe, Former Tennis Champion

The Pavlyuchenkova Incident That Reignited Wimbledon Line-Call Controversy

The spotlight on Wimbledon’s electronic line-calling reached a boiling point during Pavlyuchenkova’s fourth-round encounter with Sonay Kartal. The automated system stopped working for nearly seven minutes after failing to detect a clear out ball by Kartal at a critical stage of the match. This error occurred when Pavlyuchenkova was serving at 4-4 in the first set and had reached game point.

Due to the malfunction, chair umpire Nico Helwerth interrupted the match and ordered a replay of the point. The break in play and the decision to redo the point angered Pavlyuchenkova, who felt the call affected the flow and fairness of the match. Although she ultimately won the set and the match 7-6(3), 6-4, the incident fueled widespread debate and frustration regarding the replacement of human judges.

Following the match, Pavlyuchenkova publicly accused the officials of bias, suggesting that the British player Kartal gained an unfair advantage by virtue of being local. Her comments stirred emotions among players and fans alike.

“Because she is local, they can say whatever… You took the game away from me… They stole the game from me.” —Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Tennis Player

This criticism echoed earlier player concerns shared by Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper, who had previously expressed unease about the system’s fairness and the lack of human judgment. Wimbledon officials later explained that the malfunction was caused by a technician mistakenly turning off some cameras and issued an apology for the disruption.

Implications for the Future of Line Calling at Wimbledon

The Pavlyuchenkova incident underlines the challenges Wimbledon faces after transitioning to a fully electronic line-call system. While technology aims to increase fairness and precision, glitches like this undermine confidence among players, commentators, and fans. McEnroe’s outspoken critique reflects broader anxiety over whether the new protocols can consistently deliver accurate decisions without human oversight.

With the Wimbledon Championships being one of tennis’s most prestigious events, the ongoing debate about line-calling raises questions about whether electronic systems will remain the future or if hybrid models reintroducing human judges will be reconsidered. How officials respond to these controversies and refine the technology will likely influence player trust and tournament integrity in the years ahead.