Kick the Machine Off the Court

It was as close a call as they come. Late in the fourth set of the 2026 French Open final, Germany’s Alexander Zverev unleashed a serve so strong that Italy’s Flavio Cobolli didn’t have a chance to lift his racket. An ace. The shot would give Mr. Zverev a crucial lead in the fourth set. But Mr. Cobolli wasn’t so sure it was a winner. He walked to the service line and studied the ball’s imprint in the dusted red brick surface. To him, it looked out. Fans hollered from the stands. Then, the umpire, Damien Dumusois, descended from his chair to inspect the mark and signaled that the original call held—the ace was in.