‘Soooooo 90s’ – Vexed by a Long-Standing French Open Tradition, Ex Serena Williams’ Coach Pushes for Upgradation to Keep Up With the Changing Times

The French Open of 2023 witnessed a familiar scene of frustration regarding the use of the traditional line calling method. During the third-round match between Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev, spectators and players alike unleashed a wave of backlash against the chair umpire, accusing them of allegedly overlooking two crucial calls that were clearly outside the line. This time, it is the former coach of Serena Williams who has taken a stand against this significant issue at the French Open.

In a surprising turn of events, Rennae Stubbs, the former coach of tennis legend Serena Williams, criticized the French Open for its continued use of the traditional line calling method. Stubbs, a prominent tennis commentator, and analyst, took to Twitter to express her frustration and called for the implementation of Electronic Line Calling (ELC) technology.

Stubbs’ frustration erupts on Twitter: demands ELC at the French Open

The French Open has long relied on the traditional line calling method. In this method, umpires physically inspect ball marks to determine whether a shot is in or out. This method has been a part of the tournament’s rich history and has often been seen as an intrinsic part of clay court tennis. However, with technological advancements, other Grand Slam tournaments, such as the Australian Open and the US Open, have embraced ELC, utilizing high-speed cameras and artificial intelligence to make accurate line calls.

Stubbs, known for her outspoken nature, posted a tweet that read, “When are we going to start using ELC at the French Open! This nonsense of finding ball marks etc is soooooo 90s! Jesus!” Her tweet raised questions about the slow adoption of technology in one of the sport’s most esteemed events.

The implementation of ELC has already proven successful in other tournaments, ensuring fair play and reducing controversies stemming from incorrect line calls. Stubbs’ tweet reflects the growing sentiment among tennis professionals and fans that it is time for the French Open to embrace modern innovations and move away from the traditional method.

ATP Tour to adopt electronic line calling from 2025

In a separate but related development, it has been announced that the ATP will introduce Electronic Line Calling across its tournaments starting from 2025. This decision comes as a result of the widespread acceptance and success of the technology in other major tournaments.

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It is brought up that the use of ELC technology would eliminate human error. It will also provide players with more reliable and consistent line calls throughout the tournaments. This has led to the announcement that Electronic Line Calling is to be used across ATP Tour from 2025.

“This is a landmark moment for our sport and not one we’ve reached without careful consideration,” ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, said in a statement.

Do you think the French Open should move away from their traditional line calling method?

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