"It’s almost ridiculous that we don’t have it," Gauff urges French Open to implement video replay technology
WTA
Coco Gauff called for the use of video action replay in
tournaments like the French Open after her loss to Iga Swiatek by 2-6, 4-6. The
world No. 3 expressed her frustration after a controversial decision by the
umpire in the middle of the second set and said at a press conference that it
is ‘ridiculous’ that tennis does not use these technological systems.
The American had a heated discussion with the umpire during
the second set after a serve from the Pole was called out and the umpire
overruled it. However, the umpire decided not to replay the point as Gauff
missed the return. According to the 20-year-old tennis player, she hit the ball
after the line call was made, but the umpire disagreed and ended up awarding
the point to Swiatek.
Gauff calls for replay technology
The 2023 US Open champion reached the semifinals of Roland
Garros for the second time in her career. In 2022, she played the final of the
tournament against Swiatek, but on that occasion, too, the Pole emerged
victorious. Gauff has a poor record against Swiatek, with just 1 win out of 11
matches.
In the second set, Swiatek made a serve that the line judge
called out, but the umpire overruled and then awarded the point to the Pole as
Gauff missed the return. The American's complaint is that the line judge's call
distracted her, so the point should have been replayed in her view, something
the umpire denied amid boos from the crowd.
At the press conference, Coco addressed the controversial
point and criticized the lack of video action replay technology at Roland
Garros: “I think tennis is the only sport where not only we don’t have the VR
system, but a lot of times the decisions are made by one person. In other
sports, there’s usually multiple refs in making a decision,” said Gauff.
Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff at the net.
“I know the US Open brought some of it last year, I
believe. I know we used it in our doubles at one point,” she added. “At this
point, it’s almost ridiculous that we don’t have it. Not just because that
happened to me, but I just think every sport has it.”
“There are so many decisions that are made, and it sucks as
a player to go back or online and you see that you were completely right,” she
continued. “Also, in situations you can call for the supervisor, but there’s
not much they can do from that standpoint. I definitely think as a sport we
have to evolve, and we have the technology. They’re showing it on TV, so I
don’t get why the player can’t see it,” she added.
On the other hand, Swiatek was asked for her opinion on the
implementation of new technology: “I think it would be easier to have the
replay but honestly I don’t know what it would look like logistically,” she
said. “When can you ask an umpire to call a video replay or when it’s up to her
(the opponent) to do that? I think the umpire today was pretty sure with her
call, so I don’t know what that would look like,” the world No. 1 claimed.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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