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WTA set to introduce electronic line calling system
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-09 09:41
LOS ANGELES, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour is
planning to install an electronic line calling system at tournaments next year,
possibly before the grand slams do so.
WTA chief executive officer Larry Scott said on Monday that it was be
realistic to expect an electronic line-calling system to be in place on the tour
by the middle of the year.
"We've been testing the systems and they have been better than 90 percent
accurate, which is better than the human average," Scott said. "We haven't set a
hard deadline, but next summer is realistic. We want to make sure it is
completely reliable."
The WTA Tour has tested two systems, the British-based Hawk-eye ball tracking
system, which has been approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF),
and the Canadian-based Auto Ref system.
Scott said the tour has not decided which one to use.
Australian Open offficials have said it is highly unlikely they will employ
an electronic line calling system for their January event because they do not
have enough time to test it.
French Open officials say they do not need to use it because ball marks can
easily be seen on clay, and Wimbledon officials have also indicated they do not
see a compelling reason to employ it in 2006.
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