Extra line call challenge at Australian Open

MELBOURNE: Players will get an extra challenge under the new video line-calling system to be introduced at next January's Australian Tennis Open, organisers said on Tuesday.
    
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said the opening 2008 grand slam event will adopt a new three-plus-one challenge system for players under the Hawk-Eye video line-calling technology.
    
"That means players get three incorrect challenges during a set and a fourth challenge if it goes into a tiebreaker," Tiley said in a statement.
    
Last January's Australian Open operated under a two-plus-one line-calling challenge system.
    
"Under the new system it will be highly unlikely that players will run out of challenges," Tiley said.
    
For the first time, Hawk-Eye will also be used on the second main court inside Vodafone Arena at the 2008 Open after only being utilised on Rod Laver Arena centre court at the 2007 tournament.
    
"The Australian Open is about innovation. We had success with Hawk-Eye and the challenge system in 2007 and adding it to Vodafone Arena is a reflection of that," Tiley said.
    
"We want the players and officials to be able to take full advantage of our investment in the system."
    
Tiley said video line-calling is a quicker way of resolving a dispute over a line call.
    
"Not only that, it adds a little more drama to the match as a spectacle. It's another entertainment aspect of the modern tennis."