During a tense rally, the Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system failed to register what appeared to be an obvious out from Sonay Kartal. The crowd and commentators reacted with disbelief, as the ball was visibly beyond the baseline. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, poised to gain a crucial point, looked toward the officials for confirmation. Instead, confusion unfolded.
Officials intervene after system glitch
Acknowledging a temporary malfunction with the ELC system, officials deliberated on the fairest course of action. With no reliable ruling from the technology and no clear call from on-court umpires, the decision was made to replay the point. This neutral resolution aimed to preserve the competitive balance, though it left many questioning the reliability of automated calls under pressure.
A turning point that shifted the match momentum
Had the disputed point been awarded to Anastasia, she would have led 5–4—a psychological and tactical edge in a tightly contested match. Instead, with the point replayed and momentum stalled, Pavlyuchenkova was broken in the following game. The mishap contributed to a significant swing in energy and eventual control of the match.
The emotional fallout and power of perception
After being broken in the next game, Pavlyuchenkova was visibly frustrated. Her words—“Because she is local, they can say whatever. You took the game away from me.”—echoed through the court and social media channels. Whether her reaction was driven by a genuine belief in unfair bias or sheer disappointment, the statement highlights how emotional narratives can shape public perception in high-stakes matches.
Reflection on fairness and reliance on technology
This incident raises broader questions about the role of technology in sport, especially when outcomes hinge on precision and timing. While systems like ELC are designed to reduce human error, they are not infallible. When breakdowns occur, the fallback to human judgment must be swift, fair, and transparent to uphold the integrity of the game.
The ELC system did not call an obvious out after a shot by Kartal. After a temporary issue with the system, the decision was made to… replay the point. Had the point been awarded to Anastasia, it would have been 5–4 for Pavlyuchenkova. Ultimately, Anastasia was broken…. pic.twitter.com/kvCcy9C3eJ
— Lisa (image) (@lisa_talking_) July 6, 2025
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Pavlyuchenkova in Wimbledon, ranking, and results in 2025
13 – 9win/loss
50
High
11
34 year old
LWWWWLWWWL
Now ranked no.50, Pavlyuchenkova has a 12-9 match record in 2025. Anastasia is currently playing in Wimbledon where she bested the world no.79 Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6 6-3 6-2, the world no.31 Ashlyn Krueger 7-6(4) 6-4 and the world no.53 Naomi Osaka 3-6 6-4 6-4.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will play the world no.51 Sonay Kartal in the 4th round on Sunday at 1:30 pm on Centre Court. In the past, they have never competed against each other as of now on the main tour.
Anastasia won 12 titles in her career: 6 on hard courts, 3 on clay courts and 3 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
