Andy Murray brands tennis' VAR debut as 'a bit of a farce' following Corentin Moutet win at US Open

Updated 30/08/2023 at 09:21 GMT

Andy Murray reached the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets win over Corentin Moutet. The match saw the video review system used for the first time and it did not go well as the technology didn't function properly. Murray called it a "bit of a farce" after a lengthy delay on court. He also said he feels he is playing some of his best tennis since 2017.

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates match point against Corentin Moutet of France during their Men's Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2023 in the Flushing neighb

Image credit: Getty Images

Andy Murray labelled tennis’ VAR debut as a “bit of a farce” following his first-round win over Corentin Moutet at the US Open.

A video review system has been introduced at the Grand Slam which allows players to challenge calls such as double bounces or contact with the net.

Each player gets three challenges per set and, according to the US Open, “the VR official and VR operator will send the video to a screen on the chair umpire's chair as well as stadium screens when available”.

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However, the technology did not run smoothly at an important moment in Murray’s opening match.

With the former world No. 1 serving for the win, Moutet challenged a call to check a double bounce.

Chair umpire Louise Engzell put on headphones so she could watch a replay of the point, but after a delay announced the video review system was “not working”.

"It took about four minutes to make a decision," Murray, who was 15-30 down at the time, is quoted as saying by the BBC.

"I'm pro using technology to get to the right calls - but you've got to have it working. When it goes like that, it turns into a bit of a farce."

Even though the point was shown on the big screens around the stadium, Engzell could not make a ruling as she couldn't watch it on her tablet.

The US Open later said: "Per protocol, a video review and any call based off a review must be made by the chair umpire via the video delivered to their tablet on court.

"If the video is not available on the chair umpire's tablet, the original call on the court stands. Immediately following the match, the malfunctioning tablet was repaired."

Murray was awarded the point and went on to close out a straight-sets win.

He added on the review system: “I don't know exactly how it's supposed to work and who's supposed to make the decision on it because it was quite clear from the second video that the ball had bounced twice.

“We watched it about 10 times. It clearly is not the umpire that's making that decision. I don't know how the technology works. But, yeah, it obviously didn't go to plan in a pretty important moment of the match. So it would be good if they could get that fixed.”

Murray, who faces 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the next round, came into the tournament with concerns over his fitness after pulling out of Cincinnati.

However, he says he feels like he is playing his best tennis in several years.

"I'm at my highest ranking since I had the metal hip put in so I'm happy with that," he told Sky Sports.

"It's not been an easy journey and obviously I'd like to be ranked higher.

"This is the best I've played consistently since probably 2017. I'm happy to still be going and progressing and hoping I can push my ranking up."

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