“It’s embarrassing” – Djokovic calls for video review technology in tennis

By Chris Oddo | @DasFanKind | Sunday, August 18, 2024

Grand Slam King Novak Djokovic has commented on the glaring lack of video review technology in tennis.

Responding to Friday night's controversy that followed Jack Draper's win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in Cincinnati – and the social media discussion about X – Djokovic says the madness must stop.

Read more: Controversy clouds conclusion of Draper's victory over Auger-Aliassime

“It's embarrassing that we don't have video recordings of situations like this on the pitch,” he posted on X. “What's even more ridiculous is that we don't have a rule that would allow the referees to change the original decision based on video review off the pitch!”

It is embarrassing that we do not have video recordings of such situations on the pitch. Even more ridiculous is that we do not have a rule that would allow referees to change the original decision based on video review off the pitch!…

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) 17 August 2024

Players and fans agree on the use of video review technology, but the tours have been slow to take up the baton and implement a system.

In the last two weeks alone, there have been several cases where VAR technology would have helped avoid controversy in sport. Frances Tiafoe was treated badly in Montreal when the electronic line control failed to make a decision during his match against Alejandro Tabilo. Technology could have easily ensured the correct decision was made.

A similar situation occurred earlier this week in Cincinnati, when Taylor Fritz A point was denied against Brandon Nakashima. Here too, a simple check of a tablet would have helped.

Imagine telling me to stop when we actually have Hawkeye's electronic line calling 😂

— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) 14 August 2024

To the ATP's credit, the Tour announced a rule change to address the situation (missed decisions by the electronic line judge system) that occurred during Tiafoe and Fritz's matches.

Here's what the tour said in a statement about X:

“Update to ATP referees: Following recent technical issues with Live ELC in Montreal and Cincinnati, we have conducted a thorough review of our protocols. During a rally, if the Review Official determines that a ball was out of bounds earlier in the point (but was not detected by the system), that decision will stand.”

It's a nice proactive move, but it wouldn't have helped Auger-Aliassime, who unfairly lost a crucial point to Draper due to a missed decision that could have been corrected by a quick look at the video.

Djokovic rightly believes that the tour needs to do more.

“Everyone watching on TV will see what happened on the replay, but the players on the court will be left in the dark and unaware of the outcome,” Djokovic wrote. “We have Hawk-Eye for line decisions, we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please, dear Tour, make sure this nonsense never happens again!”