Football-style Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology could be introduced at Wimbledon after the US Open became the first grand-slam tournament to adopt the system.
Players competing in this season’s final major, which starts on Monday in New York, will be allowed to challenge contentious umpiring decisions. These include double bounces, a ball touching a player’s body, a player touching the net or a player being hindered by noise from the opponent. No more than three incorrect challenges are permitted in each set.
A document issued to players and coaches before the tournament explains that a video review official and video review operator will respond to challenges by finding the best camera angle of the incident. A replay will then be shown on a tablet at the umpire’s chair and on large screens inside the stadium while the umpire decides to either confirm or overturn his original decision.
VAR will be available on the largest five of 22 courts at Flushing Meadows, including the main Arthur Ashe Stadium. This is expected to cover about 50 per cent of all singles matches contested over the fortnight.
Providing that the use of VAR is considered a success by players, it is expected that this will be rolled out at other grand-slam events in the future. Wimbledon officials, for example, will not wish to leave themselves open to criticism in the locker room by refusing to allow technology to settle controversial decisions.
Source : The Times
Players competing in this season’s final major, which starts on Monday in New York, will be allowed to challenge contentious umpiring decisions. These include double bounces, a ball touching a player’s body, a player touching the net or a player being hindered by noise from the opponent. No more than three incorrect challenges are permitted in each set.
A document issued to players and coaches before the tournament explains that a video review official and video review operator will respond to challenges by finding the best camera angle of the incident. A replay will then be shown on a tablet at the umpire’s chair and on large screens inside the stadium while the umpire decides to either confirm or overturn his original decision.
VAR will be available on the largest five of 22 courts at Flushing Meadows, including the main Arthur Ashe Stadium. This is expected to cover about 50 per cent of all singles matches contested over the fortnight.
Providing that the use of VAR is considered a success by players, it is expected that this will be rolled out at other grand-slam events in the future. Wimbledon officials, for example, will not wish to leave themselves open to criticism in the locker room by refusing to allow technology to settle controversial decisions.
Source : The Times
