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SPORTS Thursday 10 augusT 2023

The US Open is adding video review for double bounces. It’s a first

for Grand Slam tennis

By Howard Frendrich last year’s French Open. “It
Associated Press will be great for both the
(AP) - New U.S. Open players and the fans.”
tournament referee Jake It’s the latest example of
Garner recalls being a modern assistance for offi-
chair umpire and having cials in sports and the latest
a tough time figuring out example of the U.S. Open
in the moment whether a leading the way when
ball bounced twice be- it comes to recent rules
fore a player got it back changes at major tennis
over the net. If that hap- tournaments. Video review
pens at Flushing Meadows was tested at lower-profile
this year, though, an official men’s events such as the
can check a replay: Video ATP Cup and the Next Gen
review will make its Grand Finals. It has not been tried
Slam tennis debut when at a women’s tournament.
main-draw competition “It’s a good step in the right
begins in New York on Aug. direction,” Chris Eubanks,
28. an American ranked No.
“There were certain situa- 29, said about video re-
tions, of course, where you view. “If the technology’s
would see a video post- Novak Djokovic of Serbia, left, talks with chair umpire Jake Garner of the U.S. as he plays Andy there, why not use it?”
match and wish you had Murray of Britain during the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Mel- One additional element
made a different decision,” bourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File) Garner said was adopted
Garner told The Associated in 2021 but formally writ-
Press, “or wish you had as- Stadium, Grandstand, doubles will get three chal- tiebreakers. “I had pushed ten into the rules this year:
sistance in making that Court 5 and Court 17. That lenges per set for things for this for a while, so I am If a player does something

decision.” Video review sampling, which should in- such as double bounces, glad to see the U.S. Open is that could result in a de-
which is separate from the clude a little more than 50% a ball touching a player’s going to allow it,” said Jes- fault — such as when No-
electronic line-calling used of singles matches, accord- body, a player touching sica Pegula, an American vak Djokovic inadvertently
for ruling balls in or out at all ing to Garner, will be stud- the net or a player being who is ranked No. 3 and hit a line judge with a ball
matches will be set up for ied before deciding wheth- hindered by noise. They’ll was involved in a high-pro- at the 2020 U.S. Open —
five of the Open’s 17 com- er to expand the system in hold onto a challenge if file missed call on a double video can help determine
petition courts: Arthur Ashe 2024. This year, players in they’re correct and re- bounce that helped her whether disqualification is
Stadium, Louis Armstrong singles, doubles and mixed ceive an additional one in opponent, Iga Swiatek, at warranted. q

Claressa Shields signs multi-year deal with PFL for MMA bouts

Associated Press the top pound-for-pound nounce the PFL has re-
(AP) - Two-time Olympic female boxer. signed the most dominant
gold medalist and three-di- “All my fans, y’all have women’s boxer in the
vision boxing world cham- been asking me, when are world, Claressa Shields, to
pion Claressa Shields is re- you getting back to MMA, a new multi-year agree-
turning for another round of when are you getting back ment,” said Peter Murray,
MMA fights. in the cage,” Shields said CEO of the Professional
Shields and the Profes- in a video posted on so- Fighters League.
sional Fighters League cial media. “Well, here you The PFL announced a week
announced a multi-year go. Me and the PFL have earlier the signing of Aman-
agreement on Wednesday signed a great seven-figure da Serrano, the undisput-
and she expects to enter deal.” ed featherweight boxing
the cage again in 2024 at Shields is 14-0 with two champion.
158 pounds. knockouts as a pro boxer, Serrano has a 2-0-1 MMA
The undisputed middle- including a unanimous de- record, with both wins by Claressa Shields, top, punches Brittney Elkin during a Profession-
weight boxing champion cision over Maricela Corne- submission.q al Fighters League mixed martial arts bout in Atlantic City, N.J.,
went 1-1 in the PFL in 2021, jo in June. early Friday, June 11, 2021.
but is widely regarded as “It is a privilege to an- (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)