As the tennis world descends on Paris for the French Open, a familiar debate has resurfaced: why does Roland Garros remain the only Grand Slam tournament without electronic line calling? While the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open have all adopted Hawk-Eye or similar ball-tracking systems, the clay courts of Paris still rely solely on human line judges and the contested ball mark left in the terre battue.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has long defended the policy, arguing that the clay surface leaves a visible imprint of where the ball lands, making the mark itself the most accurate form of evidence. 'On clay, you can see the mark. It is part of the tradition and the spectacle of the tournament,' an FFT spokesperson said. However, critics point out that players and umpires often disagree over which mark is the correct one, leading to lengthy and sometimes heated disputes.
Former world number one Andy Murray, now competing in his final French Open, has been a vocal advocate for change. 'It's frustrating when you see other tournaments getting it right every time, and here we're still arguing about marks in the dirt,' he said earlier this week. 'It feels outdated, especially when the technology exists and is proven.' Other players, including Novak Djokovic, have expressed mixed views, acknowledging the charm of the tradition while admitting that mistakes can be costly.
The absence of electronic calling also has a direct impact on the rhythm of matches. Without automated 'out' calls, players must challenge calls by asking the umpire to inspect a mark, a process that can take up to 30 seconds per dispute. This contrasts sharply with the instant feedback at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, where Hawk-Eye Live is used for all calls except lets and net cords. The slower pace has drawn criticism from broadcasters and fans, who argue it disrupts the flow of play.
For British tennis fans, the issue carries particular weight this year as the country's top players, including Jack Draper and Katie Boulter, navigate the unique challenges of the Parisian clay. Boulter, who reached the third round last year, admitted that adapting to the lack of technology was 'part of the mental battle' of the tournament. 'You have to be ready for those moments where a call doesn't go your way, and you can't rely on a challenge system,' she said.