Pat Cash has been keeping a close eye on Wimbledon this year, having won the iconic tournament back in 1987.
Cash has heavily praised Carlos Alcaraz’s forehand, having watched the two-time defending champion reach the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz is looking forward to playing Cam Norrie, who is the last Briton standing in the Wimbledon singles event.
His compatriot Sonay Kartal had been enjoying a lengthy stay at the competition, but her fine run came to an end in the round of 16.
Like Norrie, she is ranked number three in British tennis, with Kartal losing her clash against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6(7-3), 6-4.
Pat Cash slams Sonay Kartal vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Wimbledon decision
Their meeting contained huge controversy, when the electronic line-calling system failed after Kartal hit a backhand long at 4-4 in the first set.
Discussing the no ‘out’ call between the WTA players, former player Cash said on BBC: “Absolutely ridiculous. That ball was clearly out.
“It was game point, it was a huge point in the match of these players’ careers. The chair umpire is there for that reason. It was clearly out. How could he not call it out and say game we will sort it out at the change of ends?
“Mind boggling that he could not call that out. That’s what he is there for. He does not have to do much at all and it was four inches out.
“He stopped them and they all stopped and he went okay yeah it was out, but the machine didn’t say it was out so let’s replay the point because the line didn’t say it!
“It was so far out! It was game point and to go 5-4. This was a huge point. It was not like it was the first point of the match. It was right in front of his face. What else does he have to do? Not an awful lot. Call that one.”
What happened between Sonay Kartal and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Wimbledon?
Like Cash, Pavlyuchenkova was enraged, having watched the ball go out, with a TV replay backing her up.
But chair umpire Nico Helwerth halted play, and was forced to make a decision on the point after the system failed to track it.
It was decided the point would be replayed, with Kartal taking full advantage as she won it and broke for a 5-4 lead.
It certainly wasn’t a good look for the Wimbledon electronic line-calling system, which has come under the spotlight more often than organisers would have hoped.
It has been introduced at Wimbledon for the very first time this year, meaning errors were perhaps expected.
But that really shouldn’t be the case at this level, with Pavlyuchenkova fortunately going on to win the match despite the major decision that went against her.
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