It will be the most dramatic rules change in tennis in 35 years when the ATP and WTA Tours start using TV replays in two weeks. Players will be permitted to challenge two calls per set. This also begs the question: When will cricket follow, if ever?
When the call is close, the pro tennis tours want to take another look. The ATP and WTA Tours have decided to use television replays starting with the Nasdaq-100 Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, in two weeks, officials said on Monday. This year’s USA Open will be the first Grand Slam event to review disputed calls on videotape.
Sapa-AP reports that discussions are under way regarding the use of replay at other tournaments, including the summer hardcourt series leading up to the US Open.
“In my 20 years in professional tennis, this is one of the most exciting things to happen for players, fans and television viewers,” eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi said in a statement. “This new technology will add a whole new dimension to the game.”
Because of the cost — more than $100 000 at Key Biscayne — videotape replays will be used only on the stadium court there, and on the two show courts at the US Open.
Replays may speed up matches
Players will be permitted to challenge two calls per set, and a third if there’s a tiebreaker. Calls upheld will count against a player’s allotment.
Video screens visible to players, umpire and fans will allow everyone to see the replay result at the same time. The process is expected to take less than 10 seconds, and officials believe replays may speed up matches because there will be fewer arguments.
“With the speed and power of today’s game, the time has come for tennis to benefit from new technology,” said Arlen Kantarian, chief executive for the US Tennis Association. “It’s an opportunity for us to help officials and players, while hopefully creating a bit more excitement and intrigue.”
No replays in clay tournaments
For such a tradition-sport, replay is radical — the most dramatic rules change since the tiebreaker was adopted in 1970.
Replay won’t be used at events played on clay, where the ball typically leaves a mark.
In December, the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia, became the first elite event to use Hawk-Eye. About 45% of the challenged rulings were overturned.
“We all have seen matches turn on questionable calls,” said Larry Scott, chief executive officer for the WTA Tour. “With all that’s on the line in tennis these days, we felt we had to pursue every means possible to utilise technology to make sure that calls were accurate.”
WHY IS CRICKET STILL RESISTING?
The one question remaining to this poster is: Will cricket eventually be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the apllication of technology that already exists at all test matches – or will the ICC keep on shying away from protecting umpires against their own often ghastly decisions?
In monetary terms there is not as much at stake as in tennis, but then again the whole world also gets to see the mistakes umpires make – and it often sways a test match or even individual careers.
March 10th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Fully!!
March 10th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
Will they show slow motion shots of Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova?
That’s all I’m interested in…
March 10th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
They will be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern era. It has to come.
March 10th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
JJ
Glad you feel so too!
As long as they don’t take two minutes to decide on a replay that is often obvious with the first look, like the tries scored in rugby.
Strange thing is that it seems it’s the umpires that are fighting it – and it is THEIR reputations that are on the line
March 10th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Instead of a TMO in rugby, why not have a TV monitor on the side of the pitch, that the ref can check out himself if he needs to refer a try decision? It makes much more sense to let the ref watch the replays himself, since the events on the screen can corroborate what he saw himself.