Challenging The Challenge In Tennis

An interesting article titled "Why Tennis' Challenge System Has To Go" was posted on Women Talk Sports this week. The author challenges the use of instant replay in professional tennis. The author argues that challenges are not fair because the technology is not available at every venue. Additionally, the author suggests that preferential priority is given to more famous athletes, allowing them to play more matches on the replay-equipped courts. Finally, the author insinuates that less experienced athletes (who are not accustomed to playing on courts with this technology) may forget about the challenge rule, and therefore are at a disadvantage.

I disagree with these arguments. There are many points (and for that matter games) that may have been lost on a mistaken call. The challenge rule was established to allow a player to make up to 3 incorrect challenges per set. Therefore they can challenge as many times as they want, as long as they correct. According to Wikipedia, during the 2006 US Open, 30.5% of men’s and 35.85% of women’s challenges were overturned. The next year at the US Open, 30.6% were overturned. While slightly older data, it still equates to roughly 1 in every 3 challenges where the line judge got the call wrong! Without a challenge system, those go uncorrected. It is true that the more seasoned players will have the advantage of ‘being used to the rule.’ However all athletes on the court are allowed the same number of incorrect challenges. As with anything, it is up to the athlete to be prepared and knowledgeable about the rules.

Technology is a progressive movement, especially in sports. It is virtually impossible to have all venues around the world equipped with the latest, greatest technology at all times. The “Why Tennis’ Challenge System Has To Go” author does not state issue with the actual technology. The technology, it seems, is not the problem. It appears the issue is more with the availability of this technology in different matches. This is where I disagree. As long as all athletes in the given match are on a level playing field (meaning given equal opportunity to challenge), I see no problem with some venues using the technology, and others not. I take issue when one athlete in a match is given a definite advantage not afforded to their competitor. Ref. wikipedia.org, womentalksports.com