Jim Courier has criticised Roland Garros after a controversial line-call incident during the fourth-round match between Casper Ruud and Joao Fonseca. The French Open remains the only Grand Slam tournament that does not use ball-tracking technology, relying instead on human umpires and clay marks.
During a crucial point in the second-set tiebreak, with Ruud leading 8-7 and holding set point, Fonseca's forehand appeared to land long. A spectator shouted 'out', and Hawk-Eye technology, used for broadcast purposes, indicated the ball was out. However, the chair umpire overruled this, pointing to a mark on the clay and ruling the ball caught the back line.
Ruud lost the set and eventually the match 5-7, 6-7(10), 7-5, 2-6. Fonseca advanced to the quarter-finals, where he faces a favourable draw following the absences of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz.
Courier, commentating on the match, expressed frustration: 'In any other tournament these guys played in all year long, that ball is out and the set is over. 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.'
However, former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee defended Roland Garros, stating: '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.'
