Madrid Open: Elena Rybakina Questions Line-Calling System After Beating Zheng Qinwen

Rybakina fumes at line-call tech

Elena Rybakina lost trust in electronic line-calling after Zheng was given ace despite ball mark appearing out. Australian Open champ beat Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Elena Rybakina says she no longer trusts line-calling system after dispute in win over Zheng Qinwen...

Elena Rybakina said she has lost faith in the electronic line-calling system after the Australian Open champion was angered by a disputed call during her three-set win over Zheng Qinwen at the Madrid Open on Sunday.

The incident happened when China’s Zheng was given an ace for 40-0 while serving at 4-3 in the second set, even though the ball mark looked well out.

“Well with this thing, I won’t trust it at all,” Rybakina told reporters after her 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win secured a place in the last 16.

  

“Because there was no mark even close to what the TV showed.”

Elena Rybakina in a disagreement with the umpire in her match against Qinwen Zheng in Madrid.

Qinwen hit a serve that was called in by electronic line calling.

Elena shows the umpire the mark, which is out.

Elena: “Are you kidding me? This is not a joke. The system is wrong.… pic.twitter.com/kIOfxGB19s

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 26, 2026

The two-time Grand Slam champion likened the situation to Alexander Zverev’s dispute with officials at last year’s men’s event in Madrid, when the German was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after photographing a disputed ball mark.

“It was, I think, similar to what Zverev had last year because it was in front of her nose. You can’t not see ‌it. It was pretty frustrating,” Rybakina said.

“It’s kind of a stolen point. ‌I understand it was her serve and she was serving really well, but it’s really frustrating.”

Rybakina will face Anastasia Potapova next with a quarter-final spot on the line.