Hawkeye Blunder and Umpire Error Spark Outrage in Athens Tennis Match
During a recent match at the 2025 Hellenic Championship, a bizarre incident involving Hawk-Eye technology and an umpire error ignited outrage among tennis fans. The game featured players Miomir Kecmanović and Kamil Majchrzak in the first round of this ATP 250 tournament held in Athens.
Match Overview
Kecmanović triumphed over Majchrzak with a score of 7-6(4), 7-6(4). This marked their third encounter on the ATP Tour, all victories for the Serbian player.
Controversial Hawk-Eye Incident
The controversy arose when Kecmanović hit a backhand shot that clearly sailed out of bounds. Surprisingly, he was still awarded the point. The Hawk-Eye system failed to register the mistake, and the chair umpire did not intervene. Both players continued the match, with Majchrzak showing little objection.
Community Reaction
Tennis fans took to social media to express their disbelief. One user remarked on the incident, describing it as “one of the most bizarre things I have seen in a while.” Another questioned why players are not more vocally challenging inaccurate electronic line calls, noting that such incidents are not uncommon.
- Fan reactions included a call for more player engagement with faulty line calls.
- Tennis insider Ben Rothenberg emphasized that this incident adds to a growing list of electronic line call issues in 2025.
Looking Ahead
Kecmanović is set to face third seed Luciano Darderi in the next round of the championship. Darderi recently participated in the 2025 Paris Masters but was eliminated in the first round.
The pair has met three times previously, with Kecmanović winning two of those matches. Their last encounter at the 2025 Winston-Salem Open ended in a decisive victory for Kecmanović.
Upcoming Matches
The winner of the Kecmanović vs. Darderi match will proceed to the quarterfinals. They could face fifth seed Alexandre Müller or other challengers such as Mackenzie McDonald and Tomás Martín Etcheverry.
In addition to their singles competitions, Darderi is also competing in the doubles event in Athens, partnering with Thiago Agustín Tirante against the fourth-seeded duo of John Peers and JJ Tracy.
