The US Open has been the frontrunner in bringing various changes to the sport. Constantly adapting to change is one of the reasons it has never been shut down in a season. They were the first grand slam to announce equal payback in 1973, the first to introduce electronic line calling in 2006, and the first to enforce a serve clock in 2018. Last year, the event made headlines for introducing in-match coaching for players.
This year, the US Open will introduce video reviews, which will help in smoother decisions for chair umpires. Multiple camera angles will help the players as well as the match officials. The video review will be set up on five courts at the event, which can cover most of the matches. The event organizers will examine its impact this year and advance with the new technology.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, Court 5, and Court 17 will be the first to experience the new technology. The video review has been tested earlier in the ATP Cup and Next Gen ATP finals but has not debuted on the WTA tour. Players welcome the decision as it reduces human error and gives concise proof for every decision.
Players in favor of the video review at the US Open
The video review has found support among the players on tour. “I had pushed for this for a while, so I am glad to see the US Open is going to allow it,” said Jessica Pegula. Chris Eubanks also favored the new change; he said, “It’s a good step in the right direction; if the technology’s there, why not use it?.”
French player Caroline Garcia was relieved upon hearing the news; she said it could remove the players’ frustration. Jordan Thompson, too, agreed with the video review, saying it removes the arguing part as the players can check themselves now.
Ball bounces, foul shots, and more are to be reviewed at the US Open
The video review system will assist the chair umpires and players in many ways. The review system will also monitor players’ behavior during the match and analyze any behavior that can lead to disqualification. It will review ball bounces, one of the most conflicting decisions a chair umpire makes. Now, it will become easier as the player can do it, and the umpire can precisely see what happened.
The recent Milos Raonic and Frances Tiafoe net incident at the Canadian Open can be avoided. Tiafoe was seen touching the net post but won the point since it was not part of the singles net. These decisions will be assisted with the help of video review. Even when the noise hinders a player, the technology steps in to save time.
Chair umpire to have final say during video review
The players and their coaching staff will receive three challenges in each set. If correct, they will hold onto a challenge and receive an extra challenge during the tiebreaks.
When a player requests a review, the officials away from the court will send replays to the chair umpire. The umpire will review it on their screen and the videoboards within the arena. The fans will also be able to witness the proceedings from the stand.
The final call rests with the umpire, who will decide whether to agree to the original call, overturn it, or let the call stand if there is no clear video evidence. It will be interesting to see Legacy make its debut at the final major of the year. The US Open main draw is scheduled to start on August 28th.
