By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Hearing an umpire call “not up” during a match can often cause arguments with players.
But that may all change at this month’s US Open.
According to the AP, the final major in Flushing Meadows, New York will allow umpires to take advantage of video technology to assist them in calling double bounces during a match.
The video review, which will be separate from the already in-place electronic line calling used in all matches, will take place on five courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as part of a trial run. Those courts include Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, Court 5 and Court 17.
After the tournament ends, the results from those courts will be reviewed to determine whether or not the video technology will be expanded to all courts in 2024.
Double bounces, and the confusion they can cause players and umpires, often brings up controversy.
At this year’s Roland Garros, umpire Kader Nouni did not see that a ball bounced twice during the Holger Rune and Francisco Cerundolo fourth round match. Nouni ended up penalizing Cerundolo who stopped mid-way through the point when a ball kid entered the court thinking that the point was over.
👀 The umpire misses a clear double-bounce
😬 The ball kid steps onto the court at the same time
🤯 Cerundolo ends up being broken at the end of the game𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐲 in the match between Holger Rune and Francisco Cerundolo! 😲#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/QspfKU3r1V
— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 5, 2023
In addition at this year’s US Open, players in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles will get three challenges for things like double bounces, balls touching a player’s body, a player touching the net, or being hindered by noise. Players will keep a challenge if correct, and get one additional in a tiebreak.
The updates in challenges given to players is welcomed by many since all-electronic line calling has done away with the previous challenge system. Players can ask to see an electronic line call replayed, but as a courtesy only.
Video review was previously tested at smaller men’s events including the ATP Cup and Next Gen Finals, but not yet at a women’s event.
One additional rule that is now formally written into the rules for 2023 involves defaulting a player. If a player does something that could result in a default, video review will help official determine if disqualification is justified.
Novak Djokovic was the most famous, recent instance of a player being defaulted. He was defaulted from the 2020 US Open after he inadvertently hit a line judge during his fourth-round match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
