New recalls being a chair umpire and having a tough time figuring out in the moment whether a ball bounced twice before a player got it back over the net.
If that happens at Flushing Meadows this year, though, an official can check a replay: Video review will make its debut when main-draw competition begins in New York on Aug. 28.
鈥淭here were certain situations, of course, where you would see a video post-match and wish you had made a different decision,鈥� Garner told The Associated Press, 鈥渙r wish you had assistance in making that decision.鈥�
Video review 鈥� which is separate from the electronic line-calling used for ruling balls in or out at all matches 鈥� will be set up for five of the Open's 17 competition courts: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand, Court 5 and Court 17. That sampling, which should include a little more than 50% of singles matches, according to Garner, will be studied before deciding whether to expand the system in 2024.
This year, players in singles, doubles and mixed doubles will get three challenges per set for things such as double bounces, a ball touching a player鈥檚 body, a player touching the net or a player being hindered by noise. They'll hold onto a challenge if they鈥檙e correct and receive an additional one in tiebreakers.
鈥淚 had pushed for this for a while, so I am glad to see the U.S. Open is going to allow it,鈥� said , an American who is ranked No. 3 and was involved in on a double bounce that helped her opponent, Iga Swiatek, at last year's French Open. 鈥淚t will be great for both the players and the fans.鈥�
It's the latest example of modern assistance for officials in sports 鈥� and the latest example of the U.S. Open leading the way when it comes to recent rules changes at major tennis tournaments.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking to innovate,鈥� Garner said.
The U.S. Open was the first Slam event with electronic line-calling (in 2006), the first with (2018) and the first to (2022).
Video review was tested at lower-profile men's events such as the ATP Cup and the Next Gen Finals. It has not been tried at a women's tournament.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good step in the right direction,鈥� , an American ranked No. 29, said about video review. 鈥淚f the technology鈥檚 there, why not use it?鈥�
One additional element Garner said was adopted in 2021 but formally written into the rules this year: If a player does something that could result in a default 鈥� such as when with a ball at the 2020 U.S. Open 鈥� video can help determine whether disqualification is warranted.
Several players asked about the new video review setup were not aware of it.
They were uniformly in favor.
鈥淚t completely makes sense,鈥� said , a 2022 U.S. Open semifinalist from France. "It can be super frustrating if you think you saw a double bounce and the umpire didn鈥檛 see it, for some reason. It's always better to know right away than to be mad at someone. You just want to know.鈥�
When there is a challenge, two people away from the court will send the best replay to the chair umpire's screen and videoboards in the arena. The umpire will have three options: confirm the original call, overturn it or let the call stand if there isn't clear video evidence one way or the other.
All reviews will be prompted by players and should help reduce 鈥� if not eliminate 鈥� disagreements over these types of episodes, which happen every so often.
鈥淚f you think something didn鈥檛 go your way, just challenge it. Then there鈥檚 no more arguing,鈥� said Jordan Thompson, an Australian ranked No. 55.
He lost a point in the last game of a match at a U.S. Open tuneup in Washington two years ago even though his opponent connected with the ball after an extra bounce. The two players got in each other's faces afterward, and the chair umpire climbed down to separate them.
At the 2009 French Open, for example, Serena Williams hit a shot that went off her opponent's arm but wasn't called that way. This year in Paris, that he shouldn't have because of a double bounce.
鈥淪ome umpires, they make mistakes. Some for me; some for him,鈥� Rune said. "That鈥檚 life.鈥�
Such errors should be more avoidable now.
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AP tennis:
Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
