The Australian Open, no linesmen as suggested by Djokovic

Australian Open matches could be played without linesmen, according to sources close to the first Grand Slam of the season. For health reasons, to reduce the presence of people on the track in the middle of a pandemic, the electronic arbitration system, which with the assistance of the cameras of the so-called 'hawk's eye' warns with pre-recorded voices when the ball does not enter the margins of the track or in the service boxes, as the case may be.

This technology, which will not be available in the tournament previews that will take place in Doha and Dubai, it was used in the Cincinnati Masters matches, the US Open matches played on the outdoor courts and all of the ATP Finals in London. If the news is confirmed, Tennis Australia would agree and make Novak Djokovic happy, which at the time suggested the possibility that the court assistants be dispensed with against the opinion of Rafa Nadal. “With all due respect for the tradition and culture of this sport, I don't see a reason why all tournaments on the circuit, in such a technologically advanced era, don't have what we had in Cincinnati or New York,” Djokovic said in Roland Garros, after being sent off days before the US major after hitting an involuntary but reckless pitch to a linesman during his round of 16 match against Pablo Carreño. “The technology, while expensive, is so advanced today that there is no reason why we should keep the linesmen on the track.”

Nadal replied to the Serbian during the Masters: “Everyone will have their opinions and they are all valid, I don't want controversies, but I like the traditional track better., dress more with linesmen. We have a sport with room for evolution, which has changed very little in the last 50 years, compared to most. But I don't think this is a way to improve the show. “The Spaniard was ironic when speaking about this matter: “The players can be left alone on the court, at a technological level it would not be a problem. I like that the human part intervenes in what is sport, because it adds more value and has more grace “.