Alexander Zverev confirms showdown talks with the ATP after ‘unacceptable’ line-call error at the Madrid Open
Alexander Zverev has followed Aryna Sabalenka in taking an on-court picture of the ball mark.
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Alexander Zverev (via X)
Alexander Zverev said he will speak to the ATP about the issues with the electronic line-calling system on clay courts. The German faced controversy during his third-round match at the Madrid Open. Zverev believed a shot from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was out and asked the chair umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, to check the mark. But the rules did not allow it.
Electronic line-calling has been used on hard and grass courts for some time. However, clay events usually had line judges and umpires checking ball marks by hand. Switching to the automatic system was always going to be a big test, and now players are starting to question how accurate it is.
It’s not the chair umpire’s fault because if as a rule he can’t come down, he can’t come down. So it’s not Mohamed’s fault, but I will talk to the supervisors, I will talk to the ATP, because as I said, this is not normal. For an error like this to happen, yes, one or two millimeters I understand, but four, five centimeters is not normal. I believe there was a failure in the system itself, and when something like this happens, perhaps the chair umpire should be able to come down, but it’s not the chair umpire’s fault. The referee can’t do anything. What can he do? If as a rule he can’t come down, he can’t come down.
Alexander Zverev said in his post-match press conference
Zverev is not the only player who has complained. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also took a photo during a match in Stuttgart to show a bad call. Zverev did the same thing during his match in Madrid to highlight the problem.
Both players believe the system needs to improve. Zverev hopes the ATP will listen and find a solution. Many players still trust the old way of checking ball marks more than the electronic calls.
Alexander Zverev survives major scare at the Madrid Open
German tennis star Alexander Zverev battled past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to reach the last 16 at the Madrid Open. The German needed tiebreaks in the final two sets to win a tough third-round match. He eventually came through with a 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0) victory.
At one point, it looked like Zverev might suffer the same fate as Andrey Rublev, who lost earlier in the day. Rublev, the defending champion, was beaten by Alexander Bublik in three sets.
Zverev, who is chasing his third Madrid title, was slow to start but fought back strongly. He has now won seven matches in a row after recently winning the title in Munich. The top seed will next face either Francisco Cerundolo or Francisco Comesana. Meanwhile, Rublev lost to Bublik 6-4, 0-6, 6-4, ending his title defense.
Alexander Zverev moves ahead of Jannik Sinner in the ATP race
World No. 2 Alexander Zverev may have lost the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner, but he has leapfrogged the Italian in one category. With his progress during the clay-court season, the German has moved ahead of Sinner in the ATP Race.
Zverev is currently sitting at 2,275 points, boosted by his Munich Open title run. Sinner is on 2,000 points, which came from his first Grand Slam triumph at this year’s Australian Open.
Sinner will return to action at the Italian Open to gain some matches and boost his chances at Roland Garros. Carlos Alcaraz sits at the top of the ATP Race standings with 2,740 points. However, there is a big chance that Zverev could overtake the Spaniard if he wins the Madrid Open. Alcaraz is sitting out the Madrid Open this year after suffering an injury during the Barcelona Open final.
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