US EditionFrench Open Refuses to Ditch Line Judges in 2026 Despite US Open and Others’ Use of Mistake-Ridden Tech
The French Open will keep human line judges in 2026, with 404 match officials supporting the tournament’s traditional officiating system, unlike other Grand Slams using full automation.
- The French Open announced it will retain human line judges for its 2026 tournament, diverging from other Grand Slams that use electronic line-calling.
- This decision follows the broader adoption of Electronic Line Calling , introduced in 2017 and fully embraced by the ATP Tour and three other majors since 2021.
- The French Tennis Federation defends its stance by emphasizing the tradition of clay court marks and praising the high standard of French refereeing despite past errors.
- Fans and players expressed mixed reactions, citing error-ridden calls in the 2025 finals and debating whether human judges or technology better serve the sport’s accuracy and pace.
- Retaining line judges at Roland Garros preserves its distinct character and suggests the tournament values tradition and human judgment, while its future adoption of full automation remains uncertain.
17 Articles
17 Articles
The so-called »Hawk Eye« decides more and more often in the big tennis tournaments. In Paris, one prefers to trust the judgement of real people who have a decisive advantage in the tournament.
Tennis-French Open to stick with line judges for 2026 edition
(Reuters) -The French Open will continue to use line judges for the 2026 edition despite the other three Grand Slams having already switched to an Electronic Line Calling (ELC) system, the French Tennis Federation said. Read full story
French Open Refuses to Ditch Line Judges in 2026 Despite US Open and Others’ Use of Mistake-Ridden Tech
The French Open is legendary for its Parisian red clay and unforgettable battles. Rafael Nadal’s 14 titles. The marathon final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The tournament’s story began in 1891 as a French-only event. By 1925, it opened its doors to international players. In 1928, it moved to Stade Roland Garros. Then came history in 1968, when it became the first Grand Slam of the Open Era. Over the years, the event has added show c…
As announced by the French Tennis Federation on Monday 29 September, the famous Paris competition will be the only one in the Grand Slam not to have chosen automation on this issue.
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