The French Open will remain the lone Grand Slam tournament to use human line judges for its 2026 edition, defying the global trend toward electronic line calling (ELC).
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) confirmed the decision, stating it will continue to highlight the “excellence of French refereeing” which brings “complete satisfaction” to the tournament’s organization.
While the Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon have all switched to ELC, Roland Garros is opting to retain the human element, which allows officials to inspect ball marks on the unique clay court surface.
Despite the ATP Tour and most major events adopting ELC, the system has faced mixed reviews and some malfunctions, notably at Wimbledon and other recent clay court events.
The 2025 French Open employed 404 referees, emphasizing the human oversight the tournament prioritizes.
