Hawk-Eye Set For Debut

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Eric Butorac (L) and Katie Scott / Copyright Jill Allen, Times

Disputed line-calls look to be a thing of the past as far as matches on Centre Court of the Artois Championships are concerned.

With Hawk-Eye making its first appearance on a grass court at The Queen’s Club this year, the technology was put to the test on the eve of the Championships by doubles duo Jamie Murray and Eric Butorac, BBC Breakfast TV presenter Chris Hollins and Times reporter Katie Scott.

Making a special appearance on Centre Court, the quartet challenged calls and looked up to the newly erected big screens located in the corners of the stands to await the outcome of their challenges.

Hawk-Eye made its debut on the ATP circuit in Miami in March 2006, but the 2007 Artois Championships will see its first appearance on grass, with Wimbledon also using the technology later this month.

Paul Hawkins, the man responsible for Hawk-Eye technology, told the latest Artois Tennis Podcast that he is delighted with the accuracy on grass. “We’re set up and ready to go, so we’re looking forward to it,” said Hawkins. “It’s just about planning, there’s a lot more things to set in place [than on other surfaces]. All of the stands are temporary, so in terms of mounting our cameras, we have to work with the groundsmen, we have to work with them in terms of setting the lines and letting us on the court to measure the lines. We’ve done the procedure for a few years now, so we’re in pretty good shape.”

In a change to other tournaments on the ATP circuit, players will be allowed three incorrect challenges per set (as opposed to two), with an additional challenge if the set goes to a tie-break.