VAR now causing chaos in TENNIS as Andy Murray match sees huge new feature break down at US Open
THE US Open have introduced VAR for the first time this year… with the technology getting off to a rough start.
Tennis has long incorporated the use of Hawk Eye for line calls, even getting rid of line judges in 2020.
This year, however, players can also challenge other decisions such as double bounces or net touches.
During Andy Murray‘s first round clash with Corentin Moutet, however, the technology didn’t work.
With Murray serving for the match at 5-2, Moutet was called for a double bounce.
The flashy Frenchman, who had endured an injury scare earlier in the contest, asked to challenge the call – referring it to VAR.
Umpire Louise Engzell waited for an official review to appear on her tablet… only for the technology to fail.
Fans could see numerous replays of the incident on big screens around Grandstand.
But as Engzell couldn’t get the official review, the original call had to stand – with the whole ordeal taking around four minutes.
Moutet even frustratedly appeared to look up at Murray’s player box in exasperation.
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Murray, 36, went on to serve out his straight sets win, but was unimpressed with the VAR failure after the match.
He said: “It took about four minutes to make a decision.
“I’m pro using technology to get to the right calls – but you’ve got to have it working. When it goes like that, it turns into a bit of a farce.”
He then added: “I knew there is VR, I don’t know how they use it.
“Maybe it wasn’t on the umpire’s tablet but it was on the big screens where they are showing multiple different angles and it is pretty clear from the second angle it had bounced twice.
“I don’t know who makes the call because she said it wasn’t available to her so went to the original call.
“I’m pleased the original call stood and I got the point.”
A subsequent US Open statement read: “Per protocol, a video review and any call based off a review must be made by the chair umpire via the video delivered to their tablet on court.
“If the video is not available on the chair umpire’s tablet, the original call on the court stands.
“Immediately following the match, the malfunctioning tablet was repaired.”
Viewers at home were unimpressed with the situation.
Radio 1 DJ Greg James sarcastically wrote: “Tennis VAR going well so far.”
While a fan tweeted: “First ever time VAR is used in a tennis major…. And it doesn’t work.”
A second commented: “Hahaha it’s not working. Umpire had to announce the tech they’ve used is broken. Maybe just get rid of it in sports.”
Another called it “shambolic”.
Murray will take on Grigor Dimitrov in the second round, after the Bulgarian’s incredible comeback.
Dimitrov had trailed Alex Molcan 6-7, 6-7, before roaring back to win the following three sets 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 in a total of four hours and 40 minutes.
This comeback marked the first time that Dimitrov has won a match having been two sets down.