Tennis, Djokovic: technology and no line judges

Novak Djokovic enters with a straight leg on the line judges, a figure that has always been an integral part of the world of tennis which, according to the Serbian champion, should now be permanently retired: technology could be implemented in their place.

Djokovic against line judges: technology is better

33 years old, currently engaged at the French Open, Nole asks that the already tested Hawk-Eye system can find wider diffusion also in the light of the experiments already successfully conducted.

With all my respect for the tradition and culture we have in the sport, when it comes to people on the pitch during a match, including line judges, I really see no reason why in every single tournament in the world , in this era techn ologically advanced, we cannot do as in the tournaments in Cincinnati and New York.

The direction is marked, according to Djokovic. A matter of time and the figure of the line judges will only remain a memory anchored in the tradition of this sport.

Technology is now so advanced that there is absolutely no reason to keep line judges on the pitch. This is my opinion. I certainly understand this is an expensive technology, which is an economic problem and a question mark. However, I believe we are all moving in a direction that, sooner or later, will eliminate any reason to keep the line judges.

Different speech for the ball boys, at least for the moment.

Yes , the ball boys are obviously needed, but the line judges… I don't see the reason anymore, to be honest. I would also probably have been less likely to do what happened in New York.

The reference is what happened a few weeks ago when the number one in the world ranking was disqualified from the US Open after hitting a line judge by throwing a ball at the end of a rally. Their presence in the tournament was foreseen only for the main matches.



Not everyone shares Djokovic's vision. This is the case of Garbiñe Muguruza, Spanish holder of the French Open 2016 and Wimbledon 2017. These are his words.

You can have Hawk-Eye technology even on clay. This would solve everything, but I think it's a tradition and personally I feel traditionalist. I'm glad to have line and chair judges around. I just like old fashioned things. You can implement the Hawk-Eye and modernize, but I appreciate there isn't a car in the field. We would be even more alone out there. There would only be one loudspeaker screaming whether it is in or out.

Source: Reuters