Implementation of ‘Electronic Line Calling’ Expands in Tennis
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced a new three-tier classification for “Electronic Line Calling” (ELC) systems, which will allow their availability in a wider range of tournaments, beyond the Grand Slams and elite competitions. Previously restricted to elite events, the ELC systems will now be classified as gold, silver, or bronze, expanding access to this arbitration tool. This measure is the result of a collaboration between the four Grand Slam tournaments, the men’s ATP, the women’s WTA, and the ITF. Gold systems will be used in elite competitions such as Grand Slam tournaments, the WTA and ATP circuits, the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup. Silver systems will be implemented in second-tier competitions, such as the ITF World Tennis Tour. Bronze systems are intended for national-level competitions. Silver and bronze systems are designed to be accessible for lower-level tournaments with tighter budgets, as they require less infrastructure and do not need off-court operators.The ITF added that the principles of system evaluation, such as accuracy, reliability, suitability, and practicality, are the same at all levels. The new procedures unify the approach of international governing bodies in the evaluation and continuous monitoring of ELC systems. More extensive and collaborative tests will be carried out, as well as sharing the results, to ensure accountability and high delivery standards of ELC throughout the tennis calendar. The ELC, which was first trialed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in 2017, was adopted more widely during the COVID-19 pandemic before being implemented at all ATP Tour events starting this year. The Australian Open, the US Open, and Wimbledon have replaced line judges with ELC, but the French Open has not yet done so, as the marks left by the ball on the clay help umpires make decisions. Although the ELC is generally popular among players, it received mixed reviews at Wimbledon this month after the All England Club broke with tradition and adopted the technology.“Systems that comply with the relevant standards receive classification at the appropriate level and are eligible to be used in events sanctioned by international governing bodies,” said the ITF.
ITF
