What happened to Alexander Zverev at Madrid Open? All you need to know about German’s line call controversy
During his fourth-round victory at the 2025 Madrid Open, Alexander Zverev found himself at the center of a heated controversy involving electronic line-calling (ELC).
Midway through the match, Zverev pleaded with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani to manually inspect a questionable ball mark, saying:
“Just come down and look at it. No, no, no, no. Don’t overrule it, just come down, please, just for me. Please, look at this, I’m begging you. Just look at this!”
Zverev later captured an image of the ball mark and posted it on Instagram, writing:
“Just gonna leave this one here. This was called in. Interesting call.”
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with several tennis legends supporting Zverev’s protest.
Martina Navratilova reposted Zverev’s story, commenting:
“It’s definitely out no matter which angle you look from. And there is no other mark — this particular setup needs to be improved… something is way off.”
Boris Becker also weighed in, stating:
“Clearly OUT.”
Croatian star Donna Vekic echoed their sentiments:
“So crazy that umpires are not able to overrule this! Insanity.”
Zverev’s brother, Mischa Zverev, added:
“Mark is posted… system needs to be recalibrated… and chair umpires should have the power to overrule. Otherwise, it’s silly, terribly mistaken.”
Zverev Voices His Frustrations Over the Incident
In his post-match interview, Alexander Zverev didn’t hold back:
“I hope they don’t fine me because, in my opinion, I am completely right and should not be fined for this. This was not normal. Usually, the system is very reliable. But what happened today, I don’t know.”
(Quote via Punto de Break)
The ATP has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the controversy, but Zverev may face a fine for his conduct during the match. Regardless, this incident has reignited the debate about the role of technology in officiating and whether chair umpires should retain the power to overrule automated calls.
