If there is one profession that has been toasting since the start of the Covid-19 crisis in the world of tennis, it is that of linesmen.
Without any credible explanation, they were, by a large majority of tournaments, excluded and replaced by the sacrosanct Hawk-Eye live. While this technology avoids certain errors in judgment and endless discussions with the chair umpire, it also destroys all forms of humanity in a sport that sorely needs it.
It is therefore not a surprise to see Australia, a country viscerally obsessed with the virus, forgo the use of linesmen during their entire tour. This means precisely that the ATP Cup, all ATP and WTA preparation tournaments as well as the Australian Open will take place without these people who are intimately linked to the practice of this sport.
If the ball collectors will be present, on the other hand, they will have to keep the mask on their nose. You shouldn’t mess around though …
Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 12:46 PM
