The USTA has confirmed that this year's US Open will have Video Review Technology available for use, with up to five courts getting access.
The move to incorporate video review as part and parcel of officiating is expected to help chair umpires make conclusive decisions in settling disputed calls. It is another groundbreaking move by the US Open following on from 2020.
Back then, it eliminated almost all line judges in favor of Hawk-Eye Live in order to reduce the number of on-site staff and aid in curbing the spread of coronavirus, a move that has since set the trend in subsequent editions of the New York Slam. The Australian Open has since followed suit in using electronic line calling. The USTA's statement read:
Video Review Technology will be utilized for all Main Draw matches played on Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, Grandstand, Court 5, and Court 7 as an officiating aid. The Chair Umpire will be able to review the replay of the situation via a tablet on the Umpire's chair.
The same technology was in use at the Next Gen ATP Finals and ATP Cup but was not incorporated for regular use in the rest of the tennis tournaments. The VR system has been approved by the ATP and perhaps the telling question is what kind of calls will it settle?
The Video Review System will follow a standard protocol for use to check for an invasion, or if the ball bounced more than once prior to the contact, and if the player performs a foul shot, that is, a player carries the ball on the racket or a racket touches the ball while not under the control of the player.
The VR system will also call out for foot faults, settle any scoring errors, and also help chair umpires review line calls in the event the line review system is not able to make any determination. The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the season, and main draw action will kick off on 28th August.
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