MELBOURNE, Australia -- Players will have more chances to challenge line-calls using video replays at January's Australian Open, a move organizers hope will help tennis create a more consistent policy regarding Hawk-Eye technology.
The 2008 Australian Open will adopt a "three-plus-one challenge system" for Hawk-Eye, tournament director Craig Tiley said Tuesday.
"That means players get three incorrect challenges during a set and a fourth challenge if it goes into a tiebreaker," Tiley said.
This year's tournament had a two-plus-one system
"Under the new system it will be highly unlikely that players run out of challenges," Tiley said.
Australian Open organizers will extend the use of Hawk-Eye to Vodafone Arena for next year's tournament, in addition to the main Rod Laver Arena.
"We had success with Hawk-Eye and the challenge system in 2007, and adding it to Vodafone Arena is a reflection of that," Tiley said. "We want the players and officials to be able to take full advantage of our investment in the system."
Tiley said video replays was quick way of resolving a dispute over a line call that took some pressure of a chair umpire, as well as adding more drama to the match.
"It's another entertainment aspect of the modern tennis," he said.
