USOpen Tennis - Robots replacing Eyeballs + Cameras

[DGS49]

Watching this year's USOpen I've been surprised to see no disputed or questioned line calls. Players look at close balls and just continue playing, whether the call went with them or against them.

Turns out that the line judges have been replaced by a small army of cameras. If the call is CLOSE BUT OUT, there is a loud recording of someone yelling, "Out!" If it's not so close, the recorded call is softer and less harsh.

Not just a matter of getting the calls right, it was perceived that the decision of whether to question a line call (challenges limited to two per set) was becoming strategic, thus detracting from the game. This is a good innovation. Would have been better if it had occurred while John Mac was still playing. Can you imagine him arguing with a camera?

Will baseball take note, and finally take the obvious step of having robots call balls & strikes? One can only hope.

 

[DGS49]

There is a young woman named, Lehlah Fernandez, who is moving quietly through the draw at the U.S. Open. Left handed and very smart, but without a dominant serve, this does not appear to be her Moment, but if she gets a little stronger she will be top echelon. Seems to be a nice kid, too.

Parenthetically, she won the most critical point in today's quarterfinal match on a lucky shot. Ball bounced off the top of the net, ruining the opponent's timing.

 

[Alan Stallion]

They did the automatic line calling last year in the crowd-free 2020 US Open, EXCEPT for the two main stadium courts.

Bad for Novak Djokovic, who always plays on the main courts, who managed to strike a lineman with a ball out of frustration and get disqualified. Novak won't have to worry about it this year (though one could still strike a ball-boy/girl or the chair umpire and get disqualified)

It does quicken the game without all the drama and delays of replays (and having the chair umpire decide whether to replay the point or award the point, which can still cause more drama).