U.S. Open VAR malfunctions in first use

The U.S. Open’s new video replay system setup allowing players to challenge certain calls, such as double bounces, was "used for the first time" yesterday when Corentin Moutet "hoped to get a crucial call overturned" in his match against Andy Murray. But the chair umpire’s tablet "malfunctioned, preventing her from watching video footage and forcing the original call of a point for Murray to stand." The video review introduced this year by the U.S. Open on five of its courts "is a first in Grand Slam tennis" (AP, 8/29). 

The London Times' Stuart Fraser wrote the four-minute "delay in the final game proved a waste of time" as footage "failed to show up on the umpire’s tablet." Fraser: "Thankfully, the experienced official, Louise Azemar Engzell, had made the correct call anyway by awarding the point to Murray" (London TIMES, 8/29).