French Open to Keep Human Line Judges for 2026 Edition

Roland-Garros bucking trend with human referees

The French Open will retain human line judges for the 2026 edition, diverging from other Grand Slam tournaments that have adopted electronic line-calling systems. Learn more.

The ELC system was first deployed as an experiment at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in 2017 before...

The French Open is sticking to tradition by retaining line judges for the 2026 tournament, unlike the other three Grand Slam events that have adopted Electronic Line Calling (ELC) systems. According to the French Tennis Federation (FFT), their officials have consistently delivered high-standard refereeing, recognized globally. The FFT emphasized its commitment to showcasing French officiating excellence, which brings complete satisfaction to tournament organization.

“For the next Roland Garros, the FFT will continue to highlight the excellence of French refereeing, recognised throughout the world, and which brings complete satisfaction to the organization of the tournament,” it said on Monday.

The ATP Tour has rolled out a new system across all its events this season. Interestingly, Roland-Garros is bucking the trend by sticking with human line judges for at least another year. Unlike the Australian Open, US Open and Wimbledon, which have adopted technology to aid refereeing, the French tournament is choosing to preserve its traditions.

Reasons Behind the Decision:

• High Standard of Refereeing: The French Tennis Federation (FFT) believes its officials have consistently delivered high-quality refereeing, meeting the tournament's organizational standards.

• Tradition and Prestige: Roland-Garros values its human element, considering it an integral part of the tournament's spectacle and prestige.

• Global Recognition: The FFT highlights the excellence of French officiating, which is recognized worldwide.

By retaining human line judges, Roland-Garros aims to maintain its unique character while other Grand Slam tournaments and ATP events have switched to automated systems.

The 2025 edition of the French Open featured 404 referees, with a significant presence of French officials, numbering 284. This highlights the tournament's emphasis on utilizing local and international referees to ensure fair play.

At Roland Garros, referees have the advantage of inspecting ball marks on the clay surface to aid their decision-making. While this method allows for accurate calls, it still leaves room for human error, underscoring the challenges of officiating in professional tennis.

The Electronic Line Calling system has been designed to adapt to various surfaces, including grass, hard courts, and clay courts. This technology is now widely used across different levels of tournaments, beyond just Grand Slams and elite tours.

Roland Garros confirms they will still use line judges in 2026:

They're the only Grand Slam to not implement electronic line calling.

FFT president, Gilles Moretton, said in a statement:

“We are a federation where umpires and line judges work every day and, I say this with all… pic.twitter.com/69fYW6ubsF

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 29, 2025

Despite its popularity, the ELC system faced issues at Wimbledon this year due to technical malfunctions. Additionally, some players expressed confusion over calls made by the system during clay-court events in Madrid and Stuttgart, highlighting the need for further refinement.

Key Points:

• French Open's Unique Approach: The clay-court major will continue to rely on human line judges, while the Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon have switched to electronic line-calling systems.
• ELC System: First introduced at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in 2017, the ELC system has been widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now used across various tournaments.
• Clay Court Considerations: The FFT believes human judgment is more reliable on clay courts due to visible ball marks, allowing umpires and line judges to inspect and make accurate decisions.