Alexander Zverev adds to clay line-calling furore during Madrid Open win
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev became the latest tennis player to question electronic line calling (ELC) on clay courts during a tight Madrid Open contest against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, which he ultimately won 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(0).
At 5-4 in the second set with Davidovich Fokina serving, the Spaniard scrambled forward and pushed a short backhand down the line. Zverev watched it bounce and no call came from the electronic system, meaning the ball was ruled in.
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The German immediately pleaded with umpire Mohamed Lahyani to inspect the mark. 'The machine is not working. Look at this mark … Don't overrule it, please come down,' he said.
The television visualization of the decision showed the ball catching the very edge of the sideline.
Clay court tennis always delivers 📸😳#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/OqV8SAteyr
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 27, 2025
Lahyani explained that he was unable to check the mark because the line-calling system had ruled Davidovich Fokina's shot to be in. After their conversation ended, Zverev took his mobile phone out of his bag to take a picture of the ball mark, just as Aryna Sabalenka had done during her match against Elise Mertens in Stuttgart, Germany at the Tennis Grand Prix. Lahyani issued Zverev with a code violation as a result, just as Sabalenka received one against Mertens.
Other players have also taken photos in Madrid, including Germany's Eva Lys and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Arthur Fils, meanwhile, appealed for a return to line judges after disagreeing with several calls during his match against Francisco Comesana of Argentina.
This ball in or out? pic.twitter.com/Y1dNViuO5K
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) April 25, 2025
ELC said its in… it was a wide serve. Thoughts ? 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀 pic.twitter.com/DIJAVemGue
— Eva Lys (@evalys_) April 25, 2025
In Stuttgart, there was no ELC installed — chair umpire Miriam Bley went to inspect the mark after a line judge's call, relying entirely on the ball trace. ELC, however, shows that those traces can be illusory, according to the court conditions and to how much clay there is on the surface. This creates a conflict in which players have to disbelieve their eyes — and umpires, and the tennis tours, have to ensure that they are educated on the fact that with ELC installed, ball marks are simply not part of the equation when it comes to determining if a ball is in or out.
Zverev moves on to face either Comesana or his compatriot, Francisco Cerundolo. Elsewhere in Madrid, U.S. No. 1 and world No. 3 Jessica Pegula suffered a shock defeat to Moyuka Uchijima of Japan, losing 6-3, 6-2, while Maria Sakkari of Greece knocked out No. 6 seed 6-2, 6-1.
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