Challenge-Based Instant Replay

Challenge-based instant replay approved for U.S. Open

The latest is instant replay for scoring. Players at some tournaments, beginning with the Nasdaq-100 beginning March 20 in Miami and including some US Open Series tournaments and the U.S. Open, will be able to challenge a line call and see the result of the challenge on giant screens with a instant-replay ball tracking system.

"We have to change with the times," said Arlen Kantarian, CEO of the USTA. "People's consumption of sports has changed radically. We can't stick our heads in the sand and pretend we're not in the entertainment business. Innovation in this sport will take it to the next level. We don't have to change the way the game is played. The simplicity of tennis is one of its strengths."

With some men's serves in the 153-mph range and women's serves as high as 127 mph, line calling can become line guessing. "The ball's moving so fast these days that sometimes it's impossible for anyone to see, even a trained official," said James Blake, of the USA, ranked No..21. "With instant replay, we can take advantage of technology and eliminate human error."

By limiting players to two unsuccessful line-call challenges per set, plus one more in a tiebreak, organizers are hoping to give players a recourse for bad calls while avoiding unnecessary delays to the game and possible gamesmanship by players hoping for a little rest or to break another player's rhythm. If a player wins a challenge, that player retains the challenge. There's an element of strategy as players may want to save their challenges for only the most crucial points.

"On top of just getting the calls right time after time, which will be nice, it'll add another aspect for TV viewers," said No. 3-ranked Andy Roddick of the USA. "If a player has two challenges per set, it will add drama and excitement. This will add to tennis and take out a lot of human error."

For now, Hawk-Eye, a British instant-replay system, is the only one approved for use in professional tennis, but there are other systems and the technology is improving.