| For the first time ever, the U.S. Open used its new | | | | system was first used, there were 161 calls challenged, |
| instant replay system on Monday, Aug 28th. It debuted | | | | 53 of which were overturned. The instant replay |
| on the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong courts. The | | | | system could eliminate most of the bad calls in |
| feature was introduced at the Nasdaq-100 Open | | | | matches, but some people are concerned that the use |
| earlier this year and has received mixed reviews. John | | | | of the system will get rid of the human element in the |
| McEnroe, well-known for his hot temper, thinks the | | | | game. Says Michael Stich, former mens tennis pro: "the |
| system is a great development for the sport. "I hate to | | | | system takes something out of the game. We are all |
| be in the position of defending umpires but not having | | | | humans and we all make mistakes." Yes, we want the |
| to worry about calls is a pretty big thing for us," | | | | players to be able to make mistakes, but how will it |
| McEnroe commented. | | | | hurt the game if the umps don't? This argument |
| Dubbed "Hawkeye", the system (which will be used in | | | | causes the most contention between those for instant |
| both mens and womens tennis matches) uses eight | | | | replay and those against it. |
| cameras which are fixed above the court determine | | | | Those supporting instant replay want to reduce or |
| the tennis ball's position to within 3mm and then sends | | | | eliminate the effect human error has on the outcome |
| the information back to computers. Specially designed | | | | of a game. On the other hand, many people want that |
| programs then create a virtual recreation of the path | | | | human element as part of the sport to create more |
| that shows exactly where the tennis ball touched the | | | | drama. They therefore believe it is something to be |
| ground. | | | | embraced rather than eliminated. |
| Roger Federer, the world's top-ranked player, has a | | | | Even if the concept is eventually fully embraced, |
| different opinion. He's not upset by the technology, but | | | | technology is still not a cure for every bad call from an |
| he's concerned about the expense involved in | | | | umpire or other official in a sport. There are many |
| developing and utilizing the system. He thinks the | | | | instances where a bad call can still be upheld even |
| money might be better used elsewhere. | | | | with video evidence. Either way, it appears that |
| For the US Open, each player gets three challenges | | | | Hawkeye is here to stay. |
| per match. At the Nasdaq-100 Open, where the replay | | | | |