The French Tennis Federation (FFT) confirmed Monday that the French Open will remain the only Grand Slam still using human line judges in 2026. The tournament\u2019s Vice president, Lionel Ollinger, said the decision would showcase the \u201cexcellence of French umpiring,\u201d echoing FFT president Gilles Moretton\u2019s earlier claim that France produces the best referees on tour.<\/p>\n
The Australian Open adopted Electronic Line Calling (ELC) in 2021, while the U.S. Open turned to it in 2022 after introducing it on some courts in 2020. Wimbledon followed suit in 2025. Notably, All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) chief executive Sally Bolton said the move was \u201cinevitable\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, Roland Garros seems to push it back. Umpires will continue to rely on ball marks on clay, though players note the surface can create misleading impressions. The unexpected decision triggered a flurry of comments on social media, and the reception is undeniably mixed.<\/p>\n
What Do Tennis Fans Think of the French Open\u2019s Decision To Retain Line Judges?<\/p>\n
The French Open<\/a>\u2019s refusal to adopt electronic line-calling<\/a> for 2026 has sparked a wave of backlash on social media. Fans and analysts alike voiced frustration, questioning why Roland Garros insists on clinging to tradition when the rest of tennis is moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cTechnology in sports is introduced to limit human errors. RG doesn\u2019t want progress. All this stubbornness for what,\u201d asked X user Montecinas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Technology in sports is introduced to limit human errors. RG doesn\u2019t want progress. All this stubbornness for what\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Montecinas (@Montecinas) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Antonio Lazo, another user on X, pointed out<\/a> that the French Open, played on clay, is \u201cliterally the surface that needs line judges the least.\u201d<\/p>\n Literally the surface that needs line judges the least<\/p>\n \u2014 Antonio Lazo (@iamantoniolazo) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Another user, \u2018Green Ticks\u2019 went on to explain<\/a> in detail why he thought the French Open had taken the wrong call.<\/p>\n He wrote, \u201cBackwardness mentality if you ask me. Tennis is already time consuming, tennis on clay is a torture when it comes to duration. Now we gotta add the stupid line call arguments to it and the incessant journey the umpires have to make to check a call to all this faff.\u201d<\/p>\n Backwardness mentality if you ask me. \u2014 Green Ticks (@Green__Ticks) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe one court that actually needs it, refuses it,\u201d lamented another user<\/a>, Raiyan.<\/p>\n The one court that actually needs it, refuses it \ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2640\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/fempFff5tl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Raiyan (@NovakDjokerFans) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The page \u2018Tennis Updates,\u2019 which also opposed the move, wrote on X<\/a>, \u201cStill can\u2019t believe that even Wimbledon went to ELC before RG did, I get grass is more accurate than clay but still, you stuck out a tradition longer than WIMBLEDON.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cATP has mandated it for all tournaments and it worked well even on clay for the most part.\u201d<\/p>\n Still can\u2019t believe that even Wimbledon went to ELC before RG did, I get grass is more accurate than clay but still, you stuck out a tradition longer than WIMBLEDON \ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n ATP has mandated it for all tournaments and it worked well even on clay for the most part. https:\/\/t.co\/6bKjSAdxwI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tennis Updates (@TennisUpdates25) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n With technology now a staple across most of the sport, Roland Garros\u2019 resistance has stood out sharply, and many fans see it as a step backward. While ELC has removed human error at other tournaments, it is not immune to glitches, and players remain divided over which system they prefer.<\/p>\n
Tennis is already time consuming, tennis on clay is a torture when it comes to duration.
Now we gotta add the stupid line call arguments to it and the incessant journey the umpires have to make to check a call to all this faff.<\/p>\n