Wimbledon's controversial new line-calling system malfunctions as Taylor Fritz sets up semifinal date with Carlos Alcaraz

A malfunction with Wimbledon's new electronic line-calling system required a point to be replayed during a quarterfinal match between Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov overnight.

The latest issue with the system occurred during the opening game of the fourth set on Court No.1 after Fritz had served at 15-0 and the players exchanged shots. Then came a random "fault" call.

Chair umpire Louise Azemar-Engzell stopped play and a few moments later announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, we will replay the last point due to a malfunction."

Pavlyuchenkova fumes after Wimbledon's 'deactivated' electronic line system misses call Photo shows A disgruntled Russian tennis player stands on court with hands on her hips after a point at Wimbledon. Wimbledon's move to electronic line calls has raised the ire of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after the Russian lost a key point because the system was 'deactivated'.

The system had tracked Fritz's shot in the rally as if it was a serve, the All England Club said.

"The player's service motion began while the (ball boy/ball girl) 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," the club said in a statement.

After the "fault" call, a perplexed Fritz turned to the umpire's chair and spread his hands as if asking: "What was that?"

Neither player seemed upset and Khachanov won the replayed point, but the fifth-seeded Fritz advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (4) victory.

"If it would happen on a break point or deuce or maybe tiebreaker, OK, you can get more mad," the 17th-seeded Khachanov said.

"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."

Wimbledon switched this year to the electronic system from human line judges but it has been anything but smooth.

On Sunday, there was a glaring mistake at Centre Court during Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's three-set victory over Sonay Kartal in the fourth round.

A shot by Kartal clearly landed past the baseline but was not called out by the automated set-up — called Hawk-Eye — because it had been shut off.

On Monday, club officials blamed "human error" for the oversight.

Club chief executive Sally Bolton said the technology was "inadvertently deactivated" by someone for three points in the match.

Fritz, who will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the final, says he still prefers the new system.

"There's going to be some issues here and there but, to be honest, I still think it's much better to just have the electronic line-calling [system] calling the lines as opposed to umpires," he said.

"I do like not having to think about challenging calls in the middle of points," Fritz continued.

"I do like that we don't have to argue about calls and all this stuff. I think it's a better system."

Alcaraz sets up semifinal meeting with Fritz

Defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz has eased into the semifinals, where he will face the fifth-seeded Fritz.

Alcaraz brushed aside the remaining home player, Briton Cameron Norrie, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.

The Spaniard lost the first three points on serve, but prevented Norrie from securing the break and never looked back. He took the first set in 28 minutes and the match in 99.

The victory extended his winning streak to 23 matches and his record on grass to 34 wins from 37.

"To be able to play another semifinal here at Wimbledon is really special," Alcaraz said.

"I am really happy with the level I played today against a really difficult player like Cam."

AP/AAP

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