Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas says he ‘doesn’t understand’ why the French Open hasn’t decided to implement the hawk-eye system in line with the other three Grand Slams.
The premier clay-court event have previously dismissed the need for such a system because the ball leaves a mark on the clay. Therefore any disputed calls can be visually checked by the umpire at the time. Although there have been incidents where the umpire has got it wrong after hawk-eye, which is used by broadcasters of the event, found it to be in.
One example took place during Denis Shapovalov’s second round match against Roberto Carballés Baena on Thursday. The empire ruled a shot from the Canadian as out which Hawk-Eye found to be in during a critical moment. If he had won that call, Shapovalov would have had two match points at 5-4 but he ended losing 6-8.
Weighing in on the debate, world No.6 Tsitsipas says the system should be used in all tournaments regardless of the surface to make the sport ‘better and more fair.’ Pointing out that the ball marking left on the clay isn’t always as accurate as what one may think.
“I think it’s time for Hawk-Eye on clay. I don’t understand why they haven’t proceeded,” Tsitsipas said following his win over Pablo Cuevas.
“If technology allows us to do far beyond more things that current knowledge allows us I do believe they should implement that into tennis. It doesn’t really matter the surface.’
“We have to keep growing and keep adding new things to the sport that will help make it better and more fair.”
One of the reasons for Hawk-Eye not to be used on clay currently is due to its accuracy, according to one industry source who recently spoke with ESPN. It is understood that the ‘joint certification’ committee of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) are currently testing electronic line-calling on the dirt.
“The mark you see [from a ball] on a clay court is not the mark Hawk-Eye or Foxtenn [a competing, approved electronic review system] sees. That has to do with speed of the ball and how the clay moves. So players will have to understand that what they see on the court is not what the camera shows,” the source told ESPN.
It is estimated that the use of Hawk-Eye live is $50,000 per court.
