Just when we think we’ve surrendered to the relentless pace of our high tech environment, inevitably human error interferes and high tech often doesn’t change the outcome. Hawkeye/Shot Spot is a computer simulator that determines the ball’s position with laser precision and processes it into flawless animation. This mostly avoids John McEnroesque conniptions as the crowd claps along to an irreversible an accurate decision in 3 of 4 Tennis Majors. 

Tech made a minor difference in today’s Wimbledon Women’s Final. Maria Sharapova uncharacteristically made several crucial challenges using the technology and won the points. It wasn’t enough to overcome 6^th seeded Petra Kvitova’s magnificent relentless siege that surprised tennis fans and experts alike in her clean defeat of Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-4. All hail Kvitova, a new unpretentious Queen of Tennis for winning her first major and Wimbledon no less. 

On June 4th at the French Open Women’s Finals, the referee overruled a line call against defending champion Francesca Sciavonne who had fought her way back to even up the second set for a tie-break against challenger, Li Na who was playing beautifully and taken the first set. Then, Sciavonne hit another winner to my eye. The ref got out of the chair and pointed to a mark in the dappled red clay insisting that the ball had landed outside the court as opposed to on the line. Sciavonne, a classy veteran, reinforced my skepticism because she so often stands up for her opponent if the call goes against her, as she had several times earlier in the match…but this time Sciavonne held her ground. 

Was the Women’s French Final influenced by human error? Tennis being a game of momentum swung towards the other veteran Li Na. Sciavonne, who had captured the hearts of tennis fans winning the last French Title with her grit, guile, enthusiasm and passion lost her concentration and muffed ten straight points in the tiebreak. 

Li Na goes into the history books winning the first tennis major by a citizen of China 6-4, 7-6 and won fair and square and played well. I'm not suggesting this should take anything away from her win. Sciavonne conceded graciously. As a fan of good tennis, I would have much preferred that they battle it out as they had for the rest of the match.

Every other major tournament uses Hawkeye/Shot Spot.  As much as I admire the French for preserving other traditions, it’s time for them to make the change. Too much is literally on the line.