"Scary to let machine do what they want": Karen Khachanov blasts Wimbledon's faulty tech

Another error in the electronic line call system caused controversy during the Wimbledon quarterfinal match between Karen Khachanov and Taylor Fritz. The Russian stated that it's "scary to let machines do what they want," while also asserting that he prefers the line judges that were present in previous editions.

The All England Club organization decided to embrace technology this year, replacing line judges – following the decision of the Australian Open and US Open – although it has not been entirely to the players' liking, especially after some technological errors.

During the match between Fritz and Khachanov, one of the exchanges was interrupted by an "out" signal in the middle of the rally, which led the chair umpire to decide to replay the point.

Fritz secured a 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 victory and advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time in his career. Regarding the technological error, the tournament organization issued a statement to provide explanations: "The player’s service motion began while the BBG [Ball Bounce Guage] was still crossing the net and therefore the system didn’t recognise the start of the point. As such the Chair Umpire instructed the point be replayed.”

After the match, World No. 20 Khachanov was asked his opinion on the error that occurred in the middle of the match. "To be honest, I'm more for line umpires, to be honest. I don't know. You feel a little bit court too big, too alone without line umpires,” he said. “At the same time looks like AI and electronic line calls has to be very precise and no mistakes, but we've seen a couple. That's questionable why this is happening. Is just like error of the machine or what's the reason?

“Like today I think there were a few calls. I don't know, very questionable if it's really touching the line or not. At the same time during one point, the machine call it just out during the rally. Sometimes it's scary to let machine do what they want, you know?

“Yeah, what can I do? I can argue, or I can be angry on it or just continue playing. It's not in my power. It's already happened. I need to kind of accept it, and that's it.”

“It was not kind of super important point. If it would happen on a break point or deuce or maybe tiebreaker, okay, you can get more mad. But it was just beginning of the set, 15-Love or Love-15. I don't remember. It was maybe not that important moment. That's why I stayed really focused and calm.”

A couple of days earlier, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's match against Sonay Kartal also featured a controversial call, when on a game point for the Russian – in a set that was 4-4 – the point had to be replayed after a shot from Kartal was clearly out but was not detected by the electronic call. The point was replayed, and eventually, the Brit secured a break that could have been crucial, amidst Pavlyuchenkova's protests.