By DPA
Montreal : Roger Federer put in a word for the human touch in tennis as he ripped the Hawk-eye electronic line calling system, which denied him an ace on a match point during his quarterfinal match at the Montreal Masters.
The setback was minor and didn’t stop the Swiss competitor from completing a 6-3, 6-4 quarter-final win over Lleyton Hewitt one point later Friday.
Federer, a top seed, has never been impressed by the circuitry now in use at big events. He’s happy to let lines people have a go at a call any day – even if the human also saw the serve wide.
“They stare down that line, and they know how the balls are coming. They’re used to it, they’re professionals. I think they do an excellent job,” said the world number one.
Federer added: “I wouldn’t want to be sitting on that line. I just get disappointed when they miss shocking (calls). But that can happen, too.”
The top seed thought he had an ace on the first of two match points against Hewitt, but an electronic re-play showed the missile just wide. Federer calmly finished up on a second serve to claim victory.
“It’s a weird thing, I still don’t trust a 100 per cent, I probably never will,” the five-time Wimbledon champion said.