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As tennis enters its clay court season, the focus is shifting from the authority of chair umpires to the reliability of electronic line-calling systems (ELS). These systems are increasingly responsible for making calls on whether a ball lands in or out, igniting passion and skepticism among players.
Recently, German player Alexander Zverev challenged the accuracy of such technology during a match at the Madrid Open against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. According to reports from The Athletic, Zverev questioned the ELS decision that declared his opponent’s ball “in,” despite the visible mark showing it had landed outside the court’s boundary.
On court surfaces like hard and grass, the conditions are favorable for line-calling due to their more consistent nature. In contrast, clay courts, made of loose particles, leave distinctive marks from bouncing balls, which serve as concrete evidence for disputes. This raises a pertinent question: how should disputes be resolved when automated systems contradict visible evidence?
During the match, Zverev appealed to the chair umpire, saying, “The machine is not working. Look at this mark… please come down.” In a social media moment, he captured the mark on his phone, which unfortunately led to a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Other players, such as Victoria Azarenka and Eva Lys, have also documented contentious calls throughout the tournament, reflecting a growing trend of players using their platforms to spotlight discrepancies.
While ELS technology has garnered acceptance among many players, it seems likely that disputes will escalate as the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) expands its implementation of ELS at major tournaments, with the notable exception of the French Open—the sole Grand Slam played on clay.
The system, developed by Hawk-Eye, employs advanced cameras to determine ball trajectories, factoring in speed, spin, and skid to achieve accuracy within three millimeters. “The system predicts where the ball will bounce before it arrives, relying on a blend of physics, surveillance technology, and algorithms trained on vast datasets,” as noted by analyst Kevin Nguyen.
Hawk-Eye announced last year its readiness to deploy its live line-calling technology on clay courts, where traditional physical marks have long guided officials. However, the appearance of these marks can vary with the condition of the clay, whether wet or dry, complicating human judgments—a factor highlighted in a detailed ATP Tour video demonstrating these challenges.
“Clay presents unique difficulties—perhaps the most challenging surface,” stated ATP supervisor Cedric Mourier in a last year’s interview. “The interpretation of marks is subjective and complex. ELS will remove much of that ambiguity.” As players navigate their responses to the challenges posed by electronic systems, the blend of technology and tradition adds another promising layer of drama to the clay court season.
Source
www.theverge.com