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1 Replies Last post: Jan 24, 2008 10:44 AM by triandtriagain  
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mike_cramton
15 posts since
Aug 29, 2007
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Jan 24, 2008 10:10 AM

Player Challenge an Unfair Advantage?

Tsonga may be the name on everyone's lips today after the 20-year-old Frenchman pulled off a stunning upset over Nadal, but what I'm concerned about from the latest round of the Australian Open is this little thing called the Player Challenge.

I was watching the remarkable rally of Ivanovic vs. Hantuchova when in the third set Ivanovic stopped play to request a player challenge against a baseline hit by Hantuchova. The game was at 30-40, with Ivanovic leading the set 5-4. Ivanovic stopped play to request player challenge, was ruled down but instead of the score going to deuce, the point was replayed. Ivanovic went on to win the game, served for the match and won a remarkable comeback.

Even though I was rooting for Ivanovic, I can't help but feel Hantuchova was cheated. That was a crucial moment in the match. And the result broke Hantuchova's momentum and cost her the match.

With the numerous psychological aspects involved in the game of tennis, it now seems the hawkeye technology is an added tool in the arsenal.
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triandtriagain
6 posts since
Jul 30, 2007
1. Jan 24, 2008 10:44 AM in response to: mike_cramton
Re: Player Challenge an Unfair Advantage?
It seems that instead of the point being replayed, Hantuchova probably won that point and advanced to 30 from 15, otherwise the game would have gone to deuce.

According to the hawk-eye rules: Each player receives three challenges per set. When the player challenges a point and loses, the player loses that point and one challenge. If the player wins a challenge, he wins the point and the number of challenges remains as it was. If a player has no challenges remaining and they go on a tie break, he gets one challenge.

It's a fair system because a player can stop play and challenge a call. And if he is wrong he loses that point anyway. What it does do is break up the pacing of the game. And if the replay is in the challenger's favor, then its a huge psychological boost. Yeah, in this way it is part of player strategy.

Here's how the technology works: The ball is tracked by multiple cameras placed on strategic locations and processed by a computer. The video is played when a point is challenged. Sometimes it goes to their advantage, other times not...
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