By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday August 18, 2024
Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic has weighed in on tennis’ glaring lack of video review technology.
Responding to Friday night’s controversy that occurred at the conclusion of Jack Draper’s win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in Cincinnati – and the social media discourse on X – Djokovic says that the madness has to stop.
Read More: Controversy Clouds Conclusion of Draper's Win over Auger-Aliassime
“It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay of these kind of situations on the court,” He posted on X. “What’s even more ridiculous is that we don’t have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court!
There is unanimous support among players and fans regarding the use of video review technology, but the tours have been slow to pick up the baton and put a system in place.
There have been several instances in the last two weeks alone where VAR technology would have help the sport avoid controversy. Frances Tiafoe was given a raw deal in Montreal when electronic line-calling failed to make a call during his match with Alejandro Tabilo. The technology could have easily assured that the right call was made.
A similar situation occurred earlier in the week in Cincinnat, when Taylor Fritz was denied a point against Brandon Nakashima. Again, a simple check of a tablet would have remedied the situation.
To the ATP's credit, the tour announced a rule change to address the situation (missed calls by electronic line-calling system) that occurred during the Tiafoe and Fritz matches.
Here's what the tour said in a statement on X:
"ATP Officiating Update: After recent technical issues with Live ELC in Montreal and Cincinnati, we have conducted a thorough review of our protocols. Going forward, if the Review Official determines during a rally that a ball was out earlier in the point (but was not called by the system), that decision will stand."
It's a nice proactive move, but it wouldn't have helped Auger-Aliassime, who unfairly lost a critical point against Draper on a missed call that could have been correctly changed with a quick look at the video.
Djokovic, rightfully, feels that the tour still needs to do more.
“Everyone who watches TV sees what happened on the replay, yet the players on the court are kept in “dark” not knowing what’s the outcome,” Djokovic wrote. “We have Hawk-Eye for line calls, we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please, respective Tours, make sure this nonsense never happens again!”