The Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships is making some adjustments for this 12 months’s match as they’ve determined to implement the digital line-calling system following the 2024 Andrey Rublev scene, through Reem Abulleil.
In the event you bear in mind nicely, the Russian tennis star delivered one of the surprising moments of the 2024 season whereas competing within the United Arab Emirates.Â
After a line umpire did not name what he thought was a filter out from Alexander Bublik and the Kazakh went 6-5 up of their semifinal match, the 27-year-old received into the face of 1 line choose and screamed at him in frustration.
Andrey Rublev© YouTube screenshot
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Whereas just about everybody agreed that Rublev’s actions had been inappropriate – to the Russian’s protection – many argued that it may have been prevented by merely utilizing the digital line-calling system.Â
A 12 months later, the Dubai occasion – which hosts a WTA 100 match subsequent week after which an ATP 500 match – is ditching line umpires with synthetic intelligence.
Dubai match director Salah Tahlak: We cannot have issues like final 12 months
Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships match director Salah Tahlak introduced that they’ll be utilizing digital line calling this 12 months so “we won’t have any problems like last year”.
Rublev was disqualified throughout final 12 months’s semis for screaming within the face of a line choose.
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 15, 2025
After final 12 months’s incident, Rublev was disqualified – and by the rule – he was speculated to lose all of his match prize cash and rating factors.Â
However after interesting, he retained his prize cash and rating factors however needed to pay a $36,400 effective.
When addressing it, Rublev expressed his regret but additionally instructed it will be good if some issues might be achieved to forestall such issues from occurring once more sooner or later.
“I want to thank the appeal committee for approving my appeal and changing course on the ATP’s initial decision of disqualifying me from the Dubai semifinal and taking away the ranking points and prize money I earned last week,” the Russian mentioned in an announcement final March.
“I hope that in the future, the ATP will take a closer look at this rule and make changes to it, so that an official can’t force a match outcome without having clear evidence and not letting the player have video review.”
In the meantime, Rublev is ready to return to Dubai this 12 months regardless of final 12 months’s drama.
