Victoria Azarenka lost it late in her Indian Wells match against Zheng Qinwen after the former world No. 1 thought that the electronic line calling system made an obvious mistake and failed to call an out.
Down by a set and with the score in the second set being tied to 30/30, the Belarusian went to the net and the eight-seeded Chinese responded with a lob. As the 35-year-old was running toward the Chinese’s ball, she raised her arm, signaling it was wide. But the system made no calls and therefore it was ruled as in.
Azarenka instantly got very frustrated and started arguing with chair umpire Marija Cicak. As it was happening, at one moment it was shown on the TV screen that Zheng’s ball just barely scratched the line.
Azarenka: It’s a clear mark, it’s a very bad system…
“This is bulls—. What is video review for? It’s a clear mark,” the two-time Australian Open champion ranted. Cicak tried to be as understanding as possible, telling the Belarusian: “I understand but I can’t…”
“I know you can’t do it, it’s just a sh—- f—— system,” the former world No. 1 added, to which the chair umpire responded: “I have to give you a code for this.” The Belarusian bluntly reacted to that: “Of course, I have to get a code.”
Azarenka not happy with a call during her match against Qinwen Zheng at Indian Wells
Vika: “This is bullsh*t. What is video review for? It’s a clear mark.”
“I understand but I can’t..”
Vika: “I know you can’t do it, it’s just a sh*tty f****** system.”
“I have to give you a… pic.twitter.com/PqGISco8Ul
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 8, 2025
After the incident, the current world No. 35 managed to win the next two points and even have a game point for a 5-4 lead. But then, she lost the next three points and Zheng collected the key break to go 5-4 up before serving out for the match in the following game.
Tennis World USA