Since 2022, the U.S. Open has revolutionized its line-calling system. Gone are the days of relying on fallible line judges. Instead, the tournament employs the cutting-edge technology of Hawk-Eye Live, an electronic line-calling system, to determine the accuracy of shots in real-time.
Electronic line-calling was first introduced to tennis in the 1980s with Cyclops, a system used during Wimbledon to determine if a ball was in play or not. Christopher Clarey, a former New York Times tennis reporter, and author of “The Master,” a biography on Roger Federer, explained that Cyclops paved the way for innovative alternatives to human judgment, proving that technology can surpass the limitations of human eyes and potential errors.
The advancement of sports technology is not limited to tennis. From soccer to basketball to motorsports, each sport is witnessing the integration of increasingly advanced technologies. Originally invented by Paul Hawkins in 1999 for cricket broadcasting, Hawk-Eye now serves more than 20 major sports leagues.
Hawk-Eye initially made its entry into tennis solely for broadcasting purposes in 2003. However, a pivotal moment occurred during a 2004 U.S. Open quarterfinal match between Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati. Serena recalls, “The reason Hawk-Eye became a thing was because they were calling my balls out. Every time I hit a ball, they would call it out, no matter how close or far it was.”
In this infamous match, Serena became a victim of multiple incorrect calls during critical moments. The outrage from broadcasters and viewers at home prompted demands for a fairer system. Christopher Clarey explained, “During that match, the U.S. Open was trialing a Hawk-Eye system. There was a big disparity between what people could see and what was actually happening on the court.”
Following the match, Serena received an apology, and the umpire was relieved of their duties. This incident led the International Tennis Federation to reassess their practices, ultimately approving electronic line-calling for matches in 2005.
The Covid-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for Hawk-Eye and accelerated its implementation throughout tennis. In 2020, the U.S. Open adopted the system on most of its main courts, while the 2021 Australian Open became the first Grand Slam tournament to eliminate line judges entirely. In 2022, the U.S. Open followed suit.
Hawk-Eye’s director of tennis, Ben Figueiredo, shared insights into the technology behind the system. A network of 204 cameras tracks the ball and player across all 17 courts at the U.S. Open. Additionally, there are 12 tracking cameras positioned around the courts, along with six foot-fault cameras.
Each Hawk-Eye court setup costs nearly $100,000 and takes three days to complete. The cameras record the ball’s trajectory at an astounding 340 frames per second, instantly relaying the images to the Hawk-Nest, where precise “in” or “out” calls are made.
The accuracy of Hawk-Eye is unparalleled, measured to within millimeters. Its outstanding precision has earned it a role as the officiating system of choice at all major Grand Slam tournaments, with the exception of the French Open, which is played on clay. Figueiredo clarified, “Hawk-Eye is approved on the surface of clay. It’s up to the tournament’s discretion whether to utilize Hawk-Eye.”
Tennis strategy coach Craig O’Shannessy, who has worked with Novak Djokovic, expressed the desire for Hawk-Eye to be universally adopted on clay courts. “Everybody wants it. We’ve still got too much controversy. It’s time for it to become the standard across all surfaces and countries in our sport,” he stated.
Hawk-Eye isn’t limited to tennis; it is also utilized in several major American sports leagues, including the WNBA, MLS, and NFL. The upcoming NBA season will incorporate Hawk-Eye for skeletal tracking and officiating support, enhancing the game experience for both players and fans.
Theresa Alesso, president of Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony, explained the NBA’s adoption of Hawk-Eye technology, “The NBA have chosen Sony and Hawk-Eye technology because it raises the level of their game. Our goal is really to make sports safer, fairer, and more exciting for the fans.”
The growing demand for sports technology is evident in the market. It is projected to reach $25.7 billion by 2030, experiencing a remarkable 26% growth compared to this year, according to Meticulous Market Research. Ben Figueiredo highlighted the widespread interest in Hawk-Eye, not only for officiating purposes but also for data collection.
To delve deeper into the growth and impact of Hawk-Eye under Sony, watch the informative video.
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