Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has spoken out about a controversial incident during Alexander Zverev’s recent match at the Madrid Open, calling for a rule change in how matches are officiated on clay courts. The Belarusian, known for her powerful play and outspoken nature, commented on what she described as a “mistake” made during Zverev’s match that highlighted a broader issue in the sport.
During Zverev’s tense clay-court battle, an incorrect line call reportedly shifted momentum in the match, with chair umpire intervention proving insufficient. Sabalenka weighed in on the moment, suggesting that such errors could be avoided with the help of modern technology, even on clay surfaces—traditionally resistant to electronic line-calling systems like Hawk-Eye.
“It’s frustrating,” Sabalenka said when asked about the incident. “On hard and grass courts, we have electronic line calling, but on clay, we’re still relying on human eyes and marks in the dirt. It’s time for a change.”
The incident has reignited debate in tennis circles about whether clay should adopt electronic systems like other surfaces. While some purists argue that checking ball marks is part of clay’s unique charm, others—like Sabalenka—believe the sport must evolve for consistency and fairness.
“Every point matters, especially in close matches,” Sabalenka added. “Mistakes like this shouldn’t happen at this level.”
Her comments have sparked discussion online, with fans and players divided, but many support her push for uniform standards across all court types in the modern game.
