Tennis

“I don't need to go to bed now wondering if that serve really was in or out. I looked up. It's in. There's no need to worry about that tonight. ”

James Blake

The Hawk-Eye Officiating System is the first and only ball-tracking system to have passed stringent ITF testing measures. It is accurate, reliable and practical.

“That ball was on the line…”  The professional game is won and lost on the smallest of margins. Players leave no margin for error in their practice, preparation or play. Why should line calling be any different?

“That looked ‘out’ to me.” Television audiences now expect Hawk-Eye’s verdict on a close line calling decision. Ardent tennis fans are fascinated by Hawk-Eye’s graphical representation of statistics, which have brought a whole new dimension to television coverage.

The Wimbledon Championships 2007

The Hawk-Eye Officiating System completed its debut fortnight at the Wimbledon Championships on Sunday. The Centre Court system oversaw two particularly memorable matches as the Championships drew to a close in thrilling style.

Defending champion Roger Federer beat French Open champion Rafael Nadal in five action-packed sets to equal Bjorn Borg's record of five successive Wimbledon crowns, before the mixed doubles pairing of Jelena Jankovic and Jamie Murray brought home Britain's first Wimbledon title for twenty years.

Hawk-Eye was pronounced  "an overwhelming success" by a Wimbledon spokesperson, who added, "it will be here to stay." The system was involved in controversy during the heated exchange between Federer and Nadal but, as the links below will show, television pictures can be deceiving...   

Your Concerns Explained

Click on the links below to download the PDFs that give Hawk-Eye's view on the stories making the headlines.

Wimbledon Men's Singles Final 2007

Dubai 2007

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Murray/Lu challenge

Hawk-Eye Officiating System

It is the quarter final of the Australian Open 2007. World Number 3 Nikolay Davydenko is 6-5 down in the final set against Tommy Haas of Germany. He smashes a forehand down the line: it is called ‘out’ by the line judge. The umpire does not overrule the decision.

In the equivalent tournament the year before, Davydenko would have been back in the locker room of the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. But 2007 is different. The Russian challenges the ruling and calls for Hawk-Eye: a cheer goes around the arena as the big screen shows the ball bouncing sweetly on the line. Davydenko lives to see another day and does not feel cheated as a result of an incorrect call.

Neil Harman (‘The Times Online’, 24th January 2007) called this incident Hawk-Eye’s “coming of age”. The Australian Open was the system’s second Grand Slam event, following on from an impressive debut at the 2006 US Open, and it showed its true value on the Rod Laver Arena. As James Blake said, "I weigh in on the side of the fans. If the fans like it, I like it.”

“If anyone's been listening to my commentary the past year then they know I'm in favour of using replay. I think it will make tennis more interesting. ”

John McEnroe 

Not only is the Hawk-Eye Officiating System vital for ensuring that high pressure points do not fall prey to umpiring mistakes, it brings the fans closer to the action. Spectators watch alongside their heroes and heroines on court as Hawk-Eye shows whether a ball was ‘in’ or out’ on stadia big screens.

Instant Replay

In tournaments in which the Hawk-Eye Officiating System is utilised, players are usually granted two incorrect challenges per set: if they call correctly their tally remains the same, but they lose a challenge is they are wrong. A further challenge is often granted if the set goes to a tie break. This provision ensures that players do not waste challenges on a whim, thus making sure that the tempo of the game is not interrupted. When players do make a challenge, Hawk-Eye displays the results within 2-3 seconds, making the process much quicker than on a clay court.

Accurate and Reliable

During ITF testing in 2006 Hawk-Eye made the correct call in 100% of all tests, showing an average error of only 3.6mm. The system recorded 100% of all rallies.

Tests have always been conducted outdoors, encompassing situations that take the following factors into consideration:

• Wind (and therefore camera wobble);
• Bright sunlight at different times of the day;
• Shadows covering part or the majority of the court;
• Dark or overcast conditions;
• Artifical floodlights.  

Indoor venues are obviously easier in which to track because conditions are far less variable. Quite simply, Hawk-Eye can track accurately and reliable in any conditions, on any surface.

Although the accuracy of the existing system has been tried and tested, the company is constantly trying to develop and refine the system. Hawk-Eye listens to feedback from customers and officials to ensure that Hawk-Eye remains the very best in the market.

How does it work?

2D (x,y)

Vision processing is used to identify the centre of the ball within each frame of each camera. Camera movement is compensated for by also tracking the lines of the court.

3D (x,y,z)

The system triangulates the information from each calibrated camera to provide the 3D position of the ball.

4D (x,y,z,t)

This process is repeated for each frame so that the 3D positions of the ball can be combined to produce a single trajectory of the flight of the ball.

Bounce Mark

The trajectory is then used to calculate at exact bounce contact area the ball made with the court.

Hawk-Eye on TV

Hawk-Eye is now vastly experienced in working alongside TV broadcasters, providing calls that are not challenged (or close calls if the official system is not in place) and an array of illuminating statistics to improve the overall viewing experience.

A great deal of software expertise had been expended on improving our Virtual Reality 'look' in 2007, meaning Hawk-Eye can tell even more of the statistical stories relevant to the match in hand. Hawk-Eye’s bank of graphics is constantly expanding as TV commentators and producers express different ideas and feedback.   TV Commentator and Hawk-Eye Analyst, Jason Goodall remarks on the natural addtion of Hawk-Eye statistics to sports commentary,

“I think the data that Hawk-Eye is able to capture and process in user-friendly form is invaluable in helping us all gain a unique insight into how the best players in the world are able to achieve all they do. Not only are we able to sit back and enjoy watching the world's best compete with one another, now with the help of Hawk-Eye we can also learn from them too." 

Jason Goodall

Some examples of our work (as featured at the Sony Ericsson Championships 2007 in Madrid) can be found below:

Hawk-Eye at the 2007 French Open

Hawk-Eye was in situ at the 2007 French Open at Roland Garros.  Although not used officially in the only Grand Slam event to be played on clay, the team made a positive contribution in Paris through their insightful statistics, working for a number of broadcasters including ESPN.

 

The US Open, US Open Series and World Team Tennis 2007

Hawk-Eye completed its second year as the Official Review System for the US Open Series, World Team Tennis and the US Open in New York.

The US Open 2007

Hawk-Eye saw World Number One Roger Federer achieve his fourth successive US Open crown, whilst Belgium's Justine Henin put the disappointment of Wimbledon behind her to capture her seventh Grand Slam title.

Browse the US Open Website

US Open Series Events

Federer also clinched the US Open Series 2007 Lever Challenge, with Maria Sharapova winning the Women's title.  

Browse the US Open Series Website

The China Open 2007

Hawk-Eye has been used officially at the China Open for the second year running. The Hawk-Eye team will also be in Beijing next year, albeit in a different stadium, and the Official Review System will make its debut at the Olympic Games when China hosts the XXIX Olympiad in 2008.

 Read More about the China Open 2007

See the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing

Kremlin Cup, Moscow

Hawk-Eye witnessed Number One Seed Nikolay Davedenko blast his way to a third Kremlin Cup title in Moscow. Russia also triumphed in the Men's Doubles, which saw compatriots Safin and Tursunov seal a straight sets win. Hawk-Eye will also be present at the 2007 St. Petersburg Open, marking the system's third appearance in Russia during 2007: Hawk-Eye was also in situ at the 2007 BNP Paribas Fed Cup Final in Moscow.

Read More about the ITF Fed Cup

Browse the Official Website of the Kremlin Cup

Find out more about the 2007 St Petersburg Open

What the Players Say