Madrid Open line-calling row erupts after Rybakina match

Electronic line-calling, introduced at most major clay tournaments last year, sparked controversy at the Madrid Open after Elena Rybakina's third-round match, with Rybakina saying the system is wrong and chair umpire Julie Kjendlie refusing to check a disputed ball mark, according to multiple reports. During the match against Zheng Qinwen, Zheng was awarded an ace at 3-4, 30-0, but a mark on the court appeared to show the ball was out, reports said. Since electronic line-calling was introduced on clay, umpires are unable to overrule calls by checking marks, multiple reports explained. The chair umpire reminded Rybakina that with live ELC, that is the call she must accept, according to the Daily Express. Rybakina, who won the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, said afterwards that she does not trust the system at all, according to reports. Players sometimes believe that ball marks on clay differ from what the electronic system indicates, multiple reports note. Last year, Alexandra Eala experienced a similar issue against Iga Swiatek, reports added.

Alexander Zverev took a photo of a ball mark during his third-round match in 2025, which resulted in a code violation, multiple reports said. Zverev said the mistake was four to five centimetres, calling it not normal, and stated he plans to talk to the ATP about the calls, according to a press conference.

Anastasia Potapova lost in the final round of qualifying seven days ago but entered the main draw as a lucky loser after Madison Keys, the 16th seed, withdrew due to illness, according to multiple reports. She beat Zhang Shuai in the second round, Jelena Ostapenko in the third, and then defeated Elena Rybakina 7-6(8), 6-4 in the fourth round, according to reports. She became the first lucky loser to reach the quarter-finals in the women's draw at the Madrid Open, multiple reports confirm. “I got my second chance during this tournament, and I think I’m using it pretty well. I’m just enjoying being here,” Potapova said in a press conference. For reaching the quarter-finals, Potapova earned at least £146,783 (€169,375) and 215 ranking points, according to multiple reports. She will return to the world’s top 50 next week, multiple reports said. She faces Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-final, according to reports. If she beats Pliskova, she will become the first lucky loser to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final, multiple reports said. Potapova said she is using her second chance and is grateful for the win, but she wants to keep improving and get closer to the top players.

Potapova switched allegiances to Austria during the off-season, multiple reports said. She finished runner-up at Linz, losing to Mirra Andreeva, after entering the tournament ranked No. 97, according to reports. How far Potapova can advance in the tournament remains to be seen.