By Richard Pagliaro
The US Open made history as the first Grand Slam contested without fans.
Novak Djokovic says it's time to lose the lines crew and empower technology to make the calls at Roland Garros.
The world No. 1 lit up the lines lashing lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 to roll into the Roland Garros fourth round for the 11th straight year.
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The top-seeded Serbian equaled the Open Era record for most consecutive round of 16 appearances in Paris, held by Big 3 rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, with their streaks of 11 consecutive round of 16 appearances from 2005 to 2015.
Djokovic improved to 34-1 on the season and reached a milestone with his 71st career Roland Garros win surpassing Federer for sole possession of second place on the Paris wins list behind Nadal who has 96 career French Open wins entering tomorrow's clash vs. American qualifier Sebastian Korda.
Afterward, the world No. 1 was asked his reaction to the French Tennis Federation's plan to retain a full lines crew for future editions of Roland Garros.
Djokovic said it's time technology trumps tradition: sweep the line crew aside and let Hawk-Eye or another approved line-calling technology makes the calls.
"With all my respect for the tradition and the culture we have in this sport, when it comes to people present on the court during a match, including line umpires, I really don't see a reason why every single tournament in this world, in this technological advanced era, would not have what we had during Cincinnati/New York tournament," Djokovic said. "The technology is so advanced right now, there is absolutely no reason why you should keep line umpires on the court. That's my opinion."
Roland Garros is the only major of the four Grand Slams that does not employ Hawk-Eye or another line-calling technology though the system is used on site by the tournament's television partners.
Several stars have argued Hawk-Eye is sharper than the human eye and brings clarity to questionable calls.
US Open champion Dominic Thiem said he "100% supports" the use of line-calling technology on clay.
“I think it would be fair for everybody if Hawk-Eye would also exist on clay,” Thiem said. “So I think we should make it happen. And the system, the FoxTen system in Rio, it worked out very well. I played I think three matches with that one in Rio, and there were not any issues. So I hope that next year we will have it in every clay court tournament.”
Of course, Djokovic knows all about the dangers of linespeople on court.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion made ignominious history becoming the first seed in the US Open's 140-year history to be defaulted after he accidentally hit a lineswoman in the the throat knocking her to the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
That default cost Djokovic all the ranking points and $250,000 in prize money he earned at the US Open.
"I understand technology is expensive, so it's an economical issue and a question mark," Djokovic said. "But I feel like we are all moving towards that, and sooner or later there is no reason to keep line umpire.
"Yes, ball kids, of course, ball person, yes, but line umpires, I don't see why anymore, to be honest. Maybe you can tell me if there is any significant reason why we should keep other than tradition that we had and have in this sport.
"Then I would also probably then have less chances to do what I did in New York."
Photo credit: Roland Garros Facebook