A rule change made for the 2024 US Open is music to the ears of Frances Tiafoe.
The 26-year-old is entering the final Grand Slam of the season in good form after reaching the Cincinnati Open final.
He thoroughly enjoys playing on home soil and achieved his best Grand Slam result at the 2022 US Open, where he reached the semi-finals.
Frances Tiafoe is relishing the chance to compete at Flushing Meadows again and will do so with a new rule in place.
What did Frances Tiafoe say about the rule change at the US Open?
In 2023, the US Open trialled a video review system which allows players to challenge certain calls made by a chair umpire during a match such as a double bounce. It remains in place for 2024 and will also be available on courts 5, 7, 11 and 12.
When asked about this in his pre-tournament press conference, Tiafoe was very clear about how he felt, especially given the recent umpire controversies at the Cincinnati Open.
“Very, very happy to have that. I think it’s very, very big,” the Cincinnati Open runner-up said. “There’s a lot on the line. Some things that happened last week, I feel like this can’t happen at the elite level.
“We are talking about the top of the game, our biggest events outside of slams. I think it’s a really good thing. Technology is so good now, it should be covered for sure.”
What have other players said about the US Open’s video review system?
Another player who is happy about the US Open’s video replay system being expanded this year is defending champion Coco Gauff.
The 20-year-old has called for this technology to be implemented across the tour and done so again following Gauff’s heated discussion with the chair umpire over a line call at the Paris Olympic Games.
Ahead of her title defence Gauff shared Tiafoe’s view on the use of video replays and hopes other tournaments will start to use the technology.
“The US Open had it last year. I didn’t have to use it. Hopefully I won’t have to use it this year, but I think it’s a great thing,” Gauff told reporters.
“You know, the worst is when you get apologised to afterwards, and it’s kind of just like, thanks, but, you know, what is that going to do for me now?
“I think it’ll just hold everybody accountable. I think there will be a lot less player frustration and outbursts with that. I’m excited. I hope to see it continue to expand not just in this tournament but all tournaments.”
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