In a move that separates it from the other Grand Slam tournaments, the French Open is sticking with traditional line judging, despite growing reliance on automated technology elsewhere in the sport. While the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the US Open, and all ATP clay events now use electronic line calling, Roland Garros remains the lone holdout.
This decision has come under scrutiny, especially after a heated moment at the Madrid Open, where Alexander Zverev was penalized for asking the umpire to inspect a ball mark. When denied, he took matters into his own hands, snapping a photo with his phone to dispute the call made by the automated system.
The controversy has reignited debate over the accuracy of technology in tennis, particularly on clay courts. French Tennis Federation (FFT) president Gilles Moretton addressed the issue publicly, defending the French Open’s stance and pointing to the imperfections in the current electronic system.
“This is important for us,” Moretton stated on Monday. “Given what happened in Madrid and Rome, the system used by the ATP — and not yet by the WTA — isn’t perfect. We know it has up to a 10 percent error margin. That’s significant, especially on clay, where visual confirmation can be more reliable.”
Moretton referenced Zverev’s Madrid incident as an example of the shortcomings of automated line calling. In contrast, he praised the value of human judgment and the presence of line judges at Roland Garros.
Even Wimbledon — known for its deep-rooted traditions — has embraced electronic line calling starting this year. But the French Open is determined to retain its human element.
“It’s more human,” Moretton said. “These officials work year-round across various tournaments, supporting tennis in local clubs and grassroots matches. Removing them would be a loss, not just for tennis in France, but potentially in other countries too.”
The French Open’s commitment to tradition has stirred debate, but for now, it’s clear they believe the human touch still has a place on the red clay of Roland Garros.
Leave a Reply