In a gripping third-round match at Wimbledon, Emma Raducanu expressed her frustration with the electronic line calling system following her tightly contested defeat against top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Friday. The 22-year-old British tennis star questioned a pivotal line call that occurred during a crucial moment in the match, highlighting her dissatisfaction with the technology used. As the tension in the match escalated, Raducanu called out to the chair umpire, asking, “You saw it out as well, right?”
The controversial call came on a first serve from Sabalenka at a critical juncture, with the score at 2-4, 15-0. Upon reviewing the footage, it appeared that the serve did indeed miss the line, which allowed Sabalenka to take a commanding 30-0 lead in the set. This moment proved to be crucial as it helped Sabalenka mount a comeback after initially falling behind. “That call was, like, for sure out,” Raducanu remarked during her post-match press conference, clearly indicating her belief that the line call should have been overturned.
Despite her disappointment with the line calling system at Wimbledon, Raducanu acknowledged that most calls throughout the tournament had been satisfactory. "It’s kind of disappointing, the tournament here, that the calls can be so wrong, but for the most part, they’ve been OK," she commented. However, she did mention experiencing a few incorrect calls in earlier matches, expressing a hope that the situation could improve moving forward.
Ultimately, Raducanu was defeated by Sabalenka with a score of 7-6, 6-4. After the match, she reflected on her performance, stating, “I don’t think I’ve really had a loss like this in a long time, where I feel like I maybe had chances and didn’t take them.” This acknowledgment of missed opportunities highlights the competitive nature of the sport and Raducanu's desire to improve her game.
Raducanu expressed that she would likely find it challenging to sleep after such a close loss, indicating the emotional toll of the match. “It’s going to take me a few days to process," she said. However, she also conveyed a sense of motivation, stating, “It could be a good thing that I’m like, ‘OK, I want to get straight back to work.’ I want to solidify my game so that in the big moments I can back myself a little bit more.”
As the tournament progresses, Aryna Sabalenka will prepare to face off against Elise Mertens in the round of 16 on Sunday. This matchup promises to be an exciting encounter as both players vie for a spot in the later stages of Wimbledon, while Raducanu reflects on her experience and looks ahead to refining her skills for future competitions.
