[tennisIlove09]

Drysdale: U.S. Open Will Use Instant Replay In 2005

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) . 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

[GoDominique]

[xan]

I can't see it being adopted in Wimbledon or RG, and its too late for the Australian.

There would have to be some big screen for the public to see the decision was correct.

Also the problem arisies of who would have the right to ask for a video replay, and how often. Such a thing could become more abused than the toilet break, with out-of-sorts players demanding a replay after every second shot!

[tommyk75]

Drysdale's an ass... He's the same idiot who wrote an article in Tennis Magazine saying that tennis should have regional tours like the PGA (i.e. Europeans should play on a European tour, Americans play on an American tour, Asian/Australian players play on their own tour, then everybody gets together for the Slams). He also wrote an article saying that they should do away with let serves and then totally contradicted himself on TV, saying that it wasn't necessary at all. He may have an intelligent-sounding accent, but he's full of hot air nonetheless.

[WTAaddict]

i dont agree with this if ever this happens. Its just so ridiculous to happen.

[fammmmedspin]

Either a player can question any ball or the umpire will check the balls they think are questionable or the players would have to be given a quota of checks. You can't look at every ball or the mens matches will be 8 hours long.

In the first case it will make the toilet break dodges look like a minor diversion - balls will be checked at length every time a player hits a keypoint or one is coming up or anyone tires.

In the second the umpires will not check where they made the decision - as in Serena's case at the USO - you don't check if you know you were right which is the reason to over-rule anyway. If you check every over -rule it would seem unfair not to check when the umpire didn't over-rule as you are admitting the umpire is fallible anyway.

In the third case you will have players worrying when to query and thinking about it into the rest of the match. Imagine if Serena had used up her quota before the umpire called that ball - it would look silly to query 5 calls and lose and then not be able to query the real error..

[Jaime Bahena]

Couple of questions: What options does a player get whenever he or she receives a questionable call? Can he or she stop play, and request a review? How many reviews can a player request during a game or match? The questions are endless!!!

[Pengwin]

Why not use hawkeye?

[cool bird]

Haweye is not 100% correct.

[Martian Willow]

Replays aren't 100% correct either.

[tennischick]

terrific idea as long as it is controlled. the other tournies will copy this if it turns out to be successful. can't wait to see it in action!

[volta]

IT`S ABOUT TIME. i´m not seeing Wimbledon using it but if all the other slams use it soon or later Wimbledon will allow it 2.

YEAH no more unfair points. great.

[deep bass]

I think it's a good idea. Maybe a small number of queries allowed per set to stop it from getting silly.

[Doraemon]

Just because the shit happened to Serena Willams doesn't mean they can do whatever they want to.

[xr6turbo]

Originally Posted by Saint Seiya

Just because the shit happened to Serena Willams doesn't mean they can do whatever they want to.

Oh boo hoo...

I think its a good idea.