This Wimbledon has been notable for the maiden absence of human line judges, with Alex de Minaur the latest to weigh in on this decision.
However, the issue that most players have had with the move is not the departure from tradition, although some have cited that as a factor, but more with the technological issues suffered.
Perhaps the most notable was during Sonay Kartal’s defeat late last week, where the 23-year-old was embroiled in controversy as the Hawkeye was shockingly turned off for an entire game near the end of the first set.
Wimbledon were forced to apologise for the mishap, and it was not the first that drew complaints from players.
Alex De Minaur, however, has not been so critical.
Alex De Minaur gives his honest thoughts on Wimbledon’s Hawkeye system
Asked for his thoughts on the electronic line calling controversies that have arisen from this year’s Championships, De Minaur was cautious not to stoke the flames.
In fact, he was rather measured in his reply, stating: ‘It’s a machine. You play until the out call and that’s basically it. I don’t think there were many bad calls. There are obviously so many close ones.
‘But I think when you are playing with line umpires there is still the possibility of human error, and then it relies on the player to not only focus on trying to play the point out but if a ball is close they have to make a split decision on if they are going to stop the point and forfeit the point potentially if they think it was out or play on.
‘At least this way the player plays until the out call.’
Alex De Minaur missed a great opportunity against Novak Djokovic
Aside from this Hawkeye controversy, which actually did not involve De Minaur, the Australian will feel like he missed a great opportunity earlier today against Novak Djokovic.
After all, the 24-time Grand Slam champion looked out of sorts throughout, and was clearly struggling with his breathing.
Racing into a one-set lead, in which De Minaur made Wimbledon history against Djokovic with the speed of it, the match was there to be won.
He needed to keep pushing on his opponent, and yet the 26-year-old became somewhat passive.
Instead, De Minaur preferred to prolong the rallies, hoping to outlast the 38-year-old.
Going on to lose the next three sets and the match, this feels like an uninformed tactic that wasted a golden opportunity to knock out the seven-time Wimbledon winner.
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