The Electronic Eye Expands in Tennis: New System Classification
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced a new classification of “Electronic Line Calling” (ELC) systems, which will allow their implementation in a wider range of tournaments, beyond the Grand Slams and elite events. This initiative, which materializes after a collaboration between the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals), the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) and the ITF itself, establishes three levels of classification: gold, silver and bronze.Implementation Levels
The gold level systems will be reserved for elite competitions, such as Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP and WTA circuits, the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup. Silver systems will be for second-tier competitions, such as the ITF World Tennis Tour. Finally, bronze systems will be aimed at national-level competitions. The goal of the silver and bronze systems is to make the technology accessible for lower-budget tournaments, as they require less infrastructure and do not need off-court operators.The ITF added that the system assessment principles (accuracy, reliability, suitability, and practicality) will be the same at all levels. The new procedures unify the approach of international governing bodies for the evaluation and continuous monitoring of ELC systems. The ELC’s expansion comes after its experimental implementation at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in 2017. Its use intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and, as of this year, it is used in all ATP circuit events. The Australian Open, the US Open, and Wimbledon have replaced line judges with the ELC. However, Roland Garros has not yet adopted this technology, as the marks left by the ball on the clay help the umpires make decisions. While the ELC is generally popular with players, it received mixed reviews at Wimbledon this month, after the All England Club broke with tradition and adopted the technology.“Systems that meet the relevant standards receive the classification at the appropriate level and are eligible to be used in events sanctioned by international governing bodies,” stated the ITF.
ITF
