Video replays for line calls ruled out at U.S. Open

By Matthew Cronin

STANFORD, California (Reuters) – Computer-generated video
replays will not be used to monitor line calls at the U.S.
Open, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) will announce
later on Wednesday.

“The extensive testing conducted by the International
Tennis Federation of various electronic line calling systems
determined that the available technology does not yet meet the
standards of accuracy and reliability for use as an aid to
officials,” a source close to the testing told Reuters.

“Therefore, the USTA has decided not to use it as an
official aid at the 2005 U.S. Open.”

Last week the USTA Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows tested
the Hawkeye system, a technology that is already employed by
television broadcasters to monitor line calls.

But the source said the Hawkeye system and Auto-Ref — the
other replay system the USTA tested earlier this year — were
not accurate enough on balls that fell within five millimeters
of the lines.

Australian Open and Wimbledon officials were also keen on
trying out the technology but will likely now abandon their
efforts for next year’s grand slam tournaments after the failed
tests for the U.S. Open, which starts on August 29.