Murray, Azarenka blast use of technology at Roland-Garros

Roland-Garros tournament officials implemented a new use of technology at the year’s tournament. Unfortunately, it’s not the kind of technology that anyone wanted.

Chair umpires are now wearing cameras on the heads, mainly for the purpose of allowing viewers to see ball marks when an umpire leans down to inspect. Hypothetically, at least, that is supposed to the case. In reality, though, the head cams don’t give viewers a clear view of anything because of shaking and their distance from the court.

Perhaps the the only value head cams have added to this tournament is providing viewers with a new angle to see players arguing with umpires. For example, coverage showed a Corentin Moutet argument through the head cam while the Frenchman was arguing a foot-fault call during his fourth-round loss to Jannik Sinner.

Count Andy Murray among those who are not impressed. Murray, who lost to Stan Wawrinka in the opening round, went on social media to express his frustrations with the head cams.

He posted the following on X (formerly Twitter): “Is there a worse use of technology in sport than the introduction of the umpire head cam at [Roland-Garros]?! Looks horrendous and from what I’ve seen offers nothing to anyone involved in the match!

ELECTRONIC LINE-CALLING CONTROVERSY CONTINUES

Victoria Azarenka eventually responded to Murray’s post, bringing another subject back into the spotlight. Azarenka, like many others, thinks a different technological innovation would have been useful at Roland-Garros in 2024: electronic line calling/video review.

All tour events starting in 2025 will use that system, although Grand Slams–run by the ITF as opposed to the ATP and WTA Tours–can continue to use their own discretion.

We almost certainly would have seen a different champion in Monte-Carlo earlier this spring if there had been electronic line calling that event. Jannik Sinner led Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-1 in the third set during their semi-final match, at which point the Greek hit a second serve long that should have given his opponent a double-break lead. It wasn’t called (even though replay showed it to be out), Tsitsipas ended up holding for 2-3 before coming back to win. He went on to win the tournament.

“There will be less controversy, that’s for sure,” Tsitsipas said of the soon-to-be worldwide use of electronic line calling.

Brad Gilbert, current coach of Coco Gauff, wants it right now.

“Why wait until 2025 for electronic line calling, that missed double fault at 3-1 just shouldn’t happen,” Gilbert wrote on social media following the Sinner-Tsitsipas episode.

For now, though, all Roland-Garros has is head cams.

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