A shambolic first attempt at VAR technology in grand-slam tennis. The umpire's tablet could not access the footage despite replays being shown on the big screens in the stadium. Original call stands (which was right anyway).
"A shambolic first attempt": VAR failure outrages fans at US Open
Tennis NewsWednesday, 30 August 2023 at 10:44
Tennis fans were left outraged at the
US Open after the newly implemented and much-anticipated VAR technology
malfunctioned on its debut during the first-round match between Andy Murray and
Corentin Moutet.
2012 US Open champion Murray
and world No. 72 Moutet locked horns against each other for the first time in
the opening round at Flushing Meadows. It was an engaging match, with the Scot
taking the first set with ease before almost losing the second. He clawed it
back though, and while Moutet played some impressive returns throughout, it was
Murray who won the match in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3.
It was a day of firsts for the
New York major, as this was the match where the new VAR technology, which was
implemented at the tournament for the first time this year, would make its
debut.
VAR fails for chair umpire
This controversy came after Moutet challenged a ‘not up’
call by the chair umpire. This was an especially crucial moment for the call to
be disputed as Murray was serving for the match. However, when umpire Louise
Engzell tried to use the technology, the VAR refused to play ball.
The VAR pictures did not appear on their tablet, which led
to a delay as people tried to make the data show up so Engzell could make a decision.
Eventually, they had to apologize to the players and conclude that the initial
call would stand.
Fortunately, a video replay revealed to fans that there was
a double bounce and therefore the umpire’s initial call was correct, avoiding
even more controversy around the VAR’s failure.
Fans angered by 'embarrassing' VAR issues
Following the incident, tennis fans took to social media to
express their outrage at the failure, calling it ‘embarrassing’ and ‘shambolic’
to see such a farce at one of the most important events in the tennis calendar.
"Just proving that
VAR is cr*p wherever it's deployed. In the end Moutet (who asked for the
challenge) was begging the umpire to just make a decision, whichever way it went," wrote one.
"this var debut for
tennis at the US open has been embarrassing," added another.
"A shambolic first attempt at VAR technology in
grand-slam tennis. The umpire's tablet could not access the footage despite
replays being shown on the big screens in the stadium. Original call stands
(which was right anyway)," commented Stuart Fraser, a tennis correspondent for The
Times.
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