The Virginia Tech and USC men’s tennis teams last week hosted the first two PlaySight PlayFair Challenge dual matches featuring SmartCourt technology, a cloud-based sports video and analytics platform.
One of the major advantages afforded by SmartCourt technology is the PlayFair Challenge System. The technology enables every player using a PlaySight SmartCourt to challenge and review close line calls, utilizing PlaySight’s multiple camera angles. It enables players to cut down on cheating and gain more confidence with line calls, knowing that video will be there.
The technology had been used previously in tournament competition, but not in dual matches before Virginia Tech hosted College of Charleston on Feb. 21 at Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center, which has six indoor courts with PlaySight technology. Players were allowed two challenges per set on out-of-bounds calls, and if they won the challenge, the player kept it.
College tennis history in the making. Here’s the first ever PlayFair Challenge from @VT_MTennis: a successful challenge on a forehand. pic.twitter.com/kZnAF1Nq9x
— playsight (@PlaySight) February 21, 2017
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USC then had the PlayFair Challenge system in place for its Feb. 23 dual match against Cal Poly, and it was used in many instances.
“We just want to say at the end of the day, ‘I won the match or I lost the match.’ Fair and square,'” USC head coach Peter Smith.
“I think it’ll be extremely beneficial for college tennis if this [SmartCourt technology] becomes a trend,” Virginia Tech junior Freddy Mesmer told the Collegiate Times. “The players are extremely excited about it. Anytime you get to be a part of the first of anything it is an awesome opportunity.”