Jim Courier has taken a swipe at Roland Garros after fresh controversy surrounding technology in the Casper Ruud vs Joao Fonseca match.
The French Open is the only major tournament on the professional circuit to not embrace ball-tracking technology.
And the fourth round match saw Brazilian teen sensation Fonseca enjoy a reprieve during the crunch point in the second set.
Ruud was leading 8-7 in the tiebreaker and brought up set point, with Fonseca’s forehand seemingly drifting long, prompting a fan to shout “out”.
And Hawk-Eye supported that view, displaying the ball had indeed gone long, but the chair umpire overruled Hawk-Eye, instead pointing to a spot on the clay and stating that it had caught the back line.
Ruud was therefore denied the second set, and would go on to lose it and the match 5-7, 6-7(10), 7-5, 2-6, with Fonseca in the quarter-finals and a golden chance to break through in the grand slams thanks to the absence of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.
Commentator Jim Courier was upset at the incident, stating that “in any other tournament these guys played in all year long, that ball is out and the set is over”.
He added: “I’m not saying electronic line calling is perfect, but it makes far fewer mistakes than humans. Matches should be decided by the players, not by people, not in 2026.”
Others disagreed, though, with Roland Garros’ clay able to afford umpires a chance intervene, with Australian four-time grand slam doubles champion and former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee backing up the French slam.
He said: “I gave Jim his first gig as a commentator at the Australian Open. He’s top shelf, but in this case I disagree with him. Technology is not perfect either, so may the authenticity of ball marks prevail…on clay, at Roland Garros, tennis is gladiatorial uniquely with human arbiters.”
