Andy Roddick thinks the French Open needs to consider a rule change after watching Sunday’s final.
The American witnessed Carlos Alcaraz win the clay court Grand Slam for the first time after defeating Alexander Zverev in five sets after four hours and 19 minutes of intense action.
After falling behind and doubting whether he could turn things around, the 21-year-old dug deep to complete the comeback and win 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2.
In the process Alcaraz made history by becoming the first man in the open era to win his first three majors on three different surfaces.
His success means the Spaniard has once again ascended to number two in the world rankings, behind the new World number one Jannik Sinner.
What rule does Andy Roddick want changed at the French Open?
Roddick called for a change to chair umpires having the authority to overrule or decide line calls after official Renaud Lichtenstein made a decision that Zverev did not agree with.
As the hawkeye system is not used on clay, the umpire will leave their chair and proceed to look at the mark before deciding if the ball landed in our out.
This left Roddick frustrated and the former World number one wants to see an electronic system used on clay the same way it is in operation for hard and grass court tournaments.
“Players normally right. Shotspot showed Zverev saw the mark the correct way,” he tweeted. “Can’t replace real life playing reps when reading marks correctly. Good riddance to these umpires trying. Bring in the machines full time.”
This came just three days after he wrote: “An umpire explaining to a player how a ball travels and how to read a mark is always laughable to me. Most tour umpires have barely played. Can’t replace a lifetime of up close reps.”
Carlos Alcaraz fulfilled his dream of winning the French Open
Alcaraz’s French Open victory is all the more remarkable given the doubts around his fitness when he commenced his campaign.
But he grew in confidence with each match and used his supreme mental strength to overcome each challenge he faced.
He dropped a set in his second round match against Jesper de Jong before coming through in four sets and overturned deficits in his semi-final against Sinner before replicating that feat against Zverev in Sunday’s final, which left him overjoyed.
“Winning a Grand Slam is always special. Winning your first in every Grand Slam is always super special. But in Roland Garros, knowing all the Spanish players who have won this tournament and being able to put my name on that amazing list is something unbelievable,” Alcaraz said.
“[It is] something that I dreamed about being in this position since I started playing tennis, since I was five, six years old. So it’s a great, great feeling.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
