BBC halts stay tennis protection as Clare Balding points main on air warning
Play at the Queen’s Club Championships was halted on Wednesday after a localised power cut caused the electronic line-calling system to malfunction during the HSBC Championships
Clare Balding explained why play had been paused at Queen’s(Image: BBC)
Events took a surprising twist at Queen’s Club on Wednesday when the lights went out. Clare Balding stepped in when a second-round encounter at the HSBC Championships was halted due to a technical glitch.
Francisco Cerundolo was facing off against Jenson Brooksby in the day’s final match on the Andy Murray Arena, when both competitors found themselves left hanging about on court during the second game after a localised power cut caused the electronic line-calling system to pack up.
Chair umpire James Keothavong told the players to “stop for a few minutes” before confirming a power issue had struck. Balding then updated viewers at home that the situation was tricky due to the use of automated line calling at ATP Tour events, meaning no line judges were on hand to make the calls.
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“They’ve got an issue with power. As you heard, James Keovathong say, there is an issue with power on court, and also in our commentary box, a localised power cut here at Queen’s. Andrew Castle is alongside me, luckily, no problems with your power,” she explained, reports the Mirror.
Castle replied: “I didn’t start with any, so that’s fine! Can’t do without what you don’t have. I wonder what that is, maybe a generator out the back or something like that.”
Tournament referee Denise Parnell made her way down to the court while the players stayed put at their benches. Cerundolo had nabbed a break in the opening game and was serving at 1-0 40-15 when play was brought to a standstill, reports the Express.
With no line judges on hand, the only recourse was to request Keothavong to make line calls if the power issues continued. “Well, line calls are now automated; there are no line judges out there, so does that mean that the system isn’t working either?” Balding queried.
Castle chimed in: “Yeah, it will be down to James Keovathong to call the ball from the umpire’s chair.”
After a brief pause, play got back underway, with seventh seed Cerundolo quickly holding serve to establish a 2-0 lead. This wasn’t the only disruption to Wednesday’s schedule, as British wildcard Arthur Fery had to stop his match halfway through due to a nosebleed.
