tennisIlove09
Nov 19th, 2004, 02:49 PM
Drysdale: U.S. Open Will Use Instant Replay In 2005
http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/DrysdaleBobStrauss.jpg
Photo By Bob Strauss By Richard Pagliaro
11/18/2004
Cliff Drysdale has called the shots as ESPN’s voice of tennis for the past 25 years and has witnessed the role technology has played in improving tennis telecasts in that time. The former U.S. Open finalist said today the time has come for instant replay to be used as a line-calling tool in major matches and is convinced instant replay will be used to help call lines at the 2005 U.S. Open.
"It will happen by the U.S. Open next year. You can go to the bank on that one, take it to the bank," Drysdale told Tennis Week.. "By the U.S. Open, it will be a line calling-technology that will be used."
Questionable calls contributed to a controversial conclusion in Jennifer Capriati's 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal conquest of Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in September (to read about that match, please click this link: Capriati Stops Serena In Controversial Quarterfinal (http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=11420)) . The USTA acknowledged chair umpire Mariana Alves’ overrule against Williams in the opening game of the final set was incorrect in a statement released after the match. In the post-match press conference, Williams said two officials apologized to her in acknowledgement of the questionable calls.
In an effort to prevent future officiating errors, the USTA is researching potential instant replay systems. Though the USTA has not made any official announcement about the potential use of instant replay at the 2005 tournament, Drysdale believes adopting replay at majors is imminent and will be an improvement to the current system. A long-time proponent for the use of ESPN’s Emmy-award nominated ShotSpot technology, Drysdale suggested replay could be used as early as the Australian Open.
"I’m hoping that with my certainty on that subject that I can convince or we can convince the Australians that they should be the first. It could happen as soon as Australia and at the latest it will happen at the U.S. Open. I’m thrilled about it because tennis needs it for a variety of reasons, one of which, the main one being the viewing public, the second to that the live audience, and thirdly just because we don’t need more repetitions of what we’ve seen over the past year with people getting hooked out of matches." Though Drysdale concedes he is speculating about the use of instant replay, the suggestion the U.S. Open will be the first Slam to try it makes sense given the fact that Arlen Kantarian, chief executive of professional tennis for the USTA, is an innovator who was a driving force behind the U.S. Open moving the women’s final to its Saturday night prime-time slot, and a chief architect of the U.S. Open Series that generated a ratings rise for ESPN. The fact that the questionable calls occurred in a nationally-televised match between two American stars put the present line-calling system under a critical spotlight.
Drysdale denied speaking to Kantarian directly on the subject, saying "I’m speculating", (to which his broadcast partner, Patrick McEnroe, replied "He’s speculating with certainty"), but remains convinced replay will be used at the Open.
"I don’t know for a fact, but this is my prediction because of what happened at the U.S. Open," Drysdale said. "I think the U.S. Open is more subject to change than any of the other Slams, because I think they understand the public. I think they understand the game better than any other Slam. That’s why I’m convinced it’s going to happen there."
Related Story: Drysdale Celebrates 25th Anniversary As ESPN's Voice Of Tennis (http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=11490)
http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/DrysdaleBobStrauss.jpg
Photo By Bob Strauss By Richard Pagliaro
11/18/2004
Cliff Drysdale has called the shots as ESPN’s voice of tennis for the past 25 years and has witnessed the role technology has played in improving tennis telecasts in that time. The former U.S. Open finalist said today the time has come for instant replay to be used as a line-calling tool in major matches and is convinced instant replay will be used to help call lines at the 2005 U.S. Open.
"It will happen by the U.S. Open next year. You can go to the bank on that one, take it to the bank," Drysdale told Tennis Week.. "By the U.S. Open, it will be a line calling-technology that will be used."
Questionable calls contributed to a controversial conclusion in Jennifer Capriati's 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal conquest of Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in September (to read about that match, please click this link: Capriati Stops Serena In Controversial Quarterfinal (http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=11420)) . The USTA acknowledged chair umpire Mariana Alves’ overrule against Williams in the opening game of the final set was incorrect in a statement released after the match. In the post-match press conference, Williams said two officials apologized to her in acknowledgement of the questionable calls.
In an effort to prevent future officiating errors, the USTA is researching potential instant replay systems. Though the USTA has not made any official announcement about the potential use of instant replay at the 2005 tournament, Drysdale believes adopting replay at majors is imminent and will be an improvement to the current system. A long-time proponent for the use of ESPN’s Emmy-award nominated ShotSpot technology, Drysdale suggested replay could be used as early as the Australian Open.
"I’m hoping that with my certainty on that subject that I can convince or we can convince the Australians that they should be the first. It could happen as soon as Australia and at the latest it will happen at the U.S. Open. I’m thrilled about it because tennis needs it for a variety of reasons, one of which, the main one being the viewing public, the second to that the live audience, and thirdly just because we don’t need more repetitions of what we’ve seen over the past year with people getting hooked out of matches." Though Drysdale concedes he is speculating about the use of instant replay, the suggestion the U.S. Open will be the first Slam to try it makes sense given the fact that Arlen Kantarian, chief executive of professional tennis for the USTA, is an innovator who was a driving force behind the U.S. Open moving the women’s final to its Saturday night prime-time slot, and a chief architect of the U.S. Open Series that generated a ratings rise for ESPN. The fact that the questionable calls occurred in a nationally-televised match between two American stars put the present line-calling system under a critical spotlight.
Drysdale denied speaking to Kantarian directly on the subject, saying "I’m speculating", (to which his broadcast partner, Patrick McEnroe, replied "He’s speculating with certainty"), but remains convinced replay will be used at the Open.
"I don’t know for a fact, but this is my prediction because of what happened at the U.S. Open," Drysdale said. "I think the U.S. Open is more subject to change than any of the other Slams, because I think they understand the public. I think they understand the game better than any other Slam. That’s why I’m convinced it’s going to happen there."
Related Story: Drysdale Celebrates 25th Anniversary As ESPN's Voice Of Tennis (http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=11490)