Green light for Hawk-Eye at Queen's

General / Editor / 05 March 2007 / Leave a Comment

Andy Roddick has given his backing to the Hawk-Eye video line-calling system which will be used at this year's Artois Championships at Queen's Club.

The traditional pre-Wimbledon warm-up event, which has dropped the word 'Stella' from its title after 28 years, will feature the revolutionary technology for the first time and it will also be "Hawk-Eye's" debut in an ATP event in the UK.

The system proved a hit at both the US and Australian Opens, with players able to challenge a stipulated number of line-calls during each set.

The replays are available in seconds and provide the crowd with excitement as giant screens show the fine margins between success and failure for their heroes.

When the system first became available, past players appeared sceptical as to whether or not it should be used, but the modern stars seem keen on the idea of improving the standard of officiating by using the latest technology.

Roddick, who will line up with the likes of Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt at Queen's, is all in favour of helping umpires make the right decisions.

"I think it's great, I've always been one of its biggest supporters," he said. "I like everything about it.

"I think it's great for the fans, it adds another dimension to watching it on TV and it takes some of the heat off the umpires a little bit; takes human error out of it.

"It's better for me personally because it means that I spend less time whining about line calls."

Watch out for a rejuvenated Roddick at this year's grass-court events, with the 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finalist back to somewhere near his best.

Roger Federer will undoubtedly be the man to beat however, and is sure to head the Betfair markets in SW19 at the world's greatest tournament in June.