Player faith in technology shaken by storm around AI line-calling at Wimbledon

Glaring errors around Pavlyuchenkova’s match have not been an exception in first year of system’s use at SW19

When the Wimbledon organisers announced last year that electronic line-calling would replace line judges for the first time at the Championships this year, plenty of criticism could have been anticipated. Some people would take issue with the more sterile landscape on court and the lack of human touch, while the cull of around 300 linesmen and women would also surely be a sore point. It is difficult, however, to imagine they were prepared for the firestorm that has followed its long-awaited implementation at this tournament.

Electronic line-calling, or ELC, which uses automated ball-tracking technology has, after all, long been used in professional tennis tournaments, starting with the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2018. It has been four years since the Australian Open became the first grand slam to utilise the technology and this year, for the first time, the men’s tour, the ATP, is using ELC at all of its events. Although all other men’s clay-court events use ELC, the French Open is now the only grand slam that still employs human line judges.

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Continue ReadingPlayer faith in technology shaken by storm around AI line-calling at Wimbledon

Man with assault rifle killed after shooting at Texas border patrol facility

Ryan Louis Mosqueda fired dozens of rounds at federal agents, injuring a police officer before authorities shot him

A man with an assault rifle fired dozens of rounds at federal agents and a US border patrol facility in Texas on Monday, injuring a police officer, before authorities shot and killed him.

Authorities identified the shooter as Ryan Louis Mosqueda, believed to be 27, who they said shot at agents exiting the building, which is near the US-Mexico border. McAllen police chief, Victor Rodriguez, said Mosqueda had a “utility vest” in addition to the rifle when federal agents returned fire.

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Continue ReadingMan with assault rifle killed after shooting at Texas border patrol facility

Sinner fortunate to reach quarter-finals as Dimitrov retires injured leading by two sets

  • Dimitrov forced to stop with 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 lead

  • Ben Shelton wins to set up match with Sinner

If Jannik Sinner goes on to win his first Wimbledon title this weekend, he will look back on this moment as the time when his luck turned.

The world No 1 was trailing two sets to love – 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 – against an inspired Grigor Dimitrov, with a mountain to climb, when the Bulgarian hit an ace and then instantly fell to the ground clutching his pectoral muscle. He knew, there and then, that his Wimbledon was over and after a brief medical timeout, off the court, he returned in tears, before shaking Sinner’s hand.

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Continue ReadingSinner fortunate to reach quarter-finals as Dimitrov retires injured leading by two sets

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem denies ‘reign of terror’ claim from rival

  • Head of FIA bats away criticism from Tim Mayer

  • ‘Whatever I’ve been doing is good for the members’

The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has denied accusations of a “reign of terror” and suggested the governing body’s member clubs are “smiling” about the prospect of him serving another four years.

Ben Sulayem’s controversial first term as head of the FIA will come to an end in December. The 63-year-old has confirmed he will stand for a second term and is poised to face off against Tim Mayer after the American announced his candidacy in the buildup to Sunday’s British Grand Prix.

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Continue ReadingFIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem denies ‘reign of terror’ claim from rival

Billion Dollar Playground review – drop everything! Your hate-watch of the summer is here

From moaning about the truffle to complaining their towels are too smooth, everyone is absolutely awful in this wild reality show about the super-rich and their minions. Prepare to lap it up

Who among us, as the summer months and dreams of sun and cloudless skies begin and the visions of holidays and freedom take on solid form, does not think: where oh where is my hate-watch of the season?

Well, fear not, mes chéris – the wait is over! Billion Dollar Playground has arrived and it is a feast for all. Imagine that The White Lotus’s characters were real, but worse, and that none of them – increasingly unbelievably – ended up murdered. One reprobate complains that the bath towels in their luxury beachfront rental in Sydney are “too smooth”. Another derides the chef for putting smoked salmon in her caviar and asks: “Is that the same truffle as yesterday? Then definitely not.” Mo’ canapes, mo’ problems.

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Continue ReadingBillion Dollar Playground review – drop everything! Your hate-watch of the summer is here