Fish starts the ball rolling for Hawk-eye in New York

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Monday August 28, 2006

New York- Mardy Fish became the first player to call upon the Hawk-eye electronic linecalling system Monday during his 6-4, 6- 4, 1-6, 6-3 first-round win over German Simon Greul at the US Open. The American, playing on the Armstrong showcase court, used a challenge leading two sets and 1-0 in the third.

Fish challenged a Greul winner - called in on the sideline - and failed to have the ruling reversed when the computer also saw the ball good.

The technology is being used at a Grand Slam for the first time after months of successful tests at events around the world as well as at the summer's US Open run-up series of tournaments.

The technology uses a combination of ten cameras placed around the main stadiums which track the flight of the ball and can produce a video graphic reproduction of the ball's precise flight and landing within seconds when a player challenge is issued.

The measurements are accurate to within 3 millimetres, about the width of the fuzz on the yellow balls.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur