Replacing linesmen with live electronic calls will end the “romance” of Wimbledon, says an official who had an infamous run-in with John McEnroe.
Linesman Raghbir Singh Mhajan confronted the American after being accused of bias and said yesterday that the American had behaved like a “spoiled brat”.
The 1981 championships were famous for McEnroe’s much-parodied fury over a line call that went against him. He shouted angrily at referee Edward James: “You can’t be serious.”
While Hawkeye was introduced in SW19 in 2007, allowing players to challenge calls, linesmen have remained until now.
But on Wednesday it was announced that at next year’s championships they will be replaced by electronic monitors. Mhajan says the decision will ruin the 147-year-old tournament.
Linesman Raghbir Singh Mhajan confronted John McEnroe, pictured, after being accused of bias
Linesman Raghbir Singh Mhajan, back, says the decision to replace the electronic monitors at Wimbledon will ruin the 147-year-old tournament.
The 1981 championships were famous for McEnroe’s much-parodied fury, in the middle, over a line call that went against him.
Speaking from his home in west London, surrounded by memorabilia from his career, the 89-year-old told The Mail on Sunday: “What can you do?” If the players are happy with this decision, we have to follow what they want.
‘It is sad for the linesmen that after 140 years they are no longer there. It was something unique, I think.
‘Unfortunately, it won’t be the same without them, replacing them with computers, Hawk Eye or technology. You will lose some of your romance because the court will be practically empty. For me, Wimbledon is the most important tournament in tennis: it is where all the players want to play.
‘And the linesmen were part of that, part of the tradition and the atmosphere, with their uniforms and discipline. But the most important thing is the players. They need to be happy.”
Mhajan said he incurred McEnroe’s ire on several occasions, but his memory of their 1981 confrontation was still very clear. It came during a quarter-final doubles match against Indian brothers Vijay and Anand Amritraj.
Mr. Mhajan, who made history
as the first Sikh linesman at Wimbledon said in 1973: ‘McEnroe said to me: “You’re cheating, you’re Indian.” He and Fleming played the Amritraj brothers, I was a linesman and wore a turban.
‘So I calmly told him: “John, I’m not Indian, I’m Kenyan. “I’m from Kenya.”
‘I had a lot of respect from all the other players because they found me fair. But McEnroe, unfortunately, was nothing more than a spoiled brat.