"Worst is when you get apologized to afterwards" - Coco Gauff welcomes video reviews at US Open to hold umpires "accountable" for controversial calls
As Coco Gauff gears up for her title defense at the 2024 US Open, she has welcomed the use of video reviews at the New York Major. The World No. 3 expressed her belief that having this system in place will reduce players' outbursts over controversial calls.
The North American hardcourt swing in the lead-up to the US Open was riddled with controversy due to disputed calls, with the likes of Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime notably affected. Gauff herself is no stranger to controversial decisions, having clashed with chair umpires at the Paris Olympics, the French Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships this season.
As such, Coco Gauff expressed her excitement for the video review system at the US Open. During her pre-tournament press conference, the World No. 3 emphasized her dissatisfaction with receiving apologies from the umpires only after a match had concluded, asserting that the use of replays would hold them "accountable" and help mitigate players' frustration over contentious calls.
"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. You know, the worst is when you get apologized to afterwards, and it's kind of just like, thanks, but, you know, what is that going to do for me now?" Coco Gauff said.
"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," she added.
Gauff also emphasized that fans would benefit from the video review system, stating that there was nothing more "frustrating" for a spectator than to see their favorite player confused by a controversial decision.
"I think the fans would appreciate it too, because I think there's nothing more frustrating for a fan to, like, go and see that happen to their player and you're seeing that your player is right or wrong, and the player itself doesn't know. Yeah, hopefully, you know, that continues to grow," Gauff said.
"We're playing for too much on the line" - Coco Gauff calls for video review to be implemented at all tournaments
Coco Gauff emphasized the importance of the video review system in tennis, pointing out that sports with fewer resources have made use of the technology for a long time.
"Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, we're playing for too much on the line for that not to be a thing, especially when other sports have it where, you know, maybe they don't even have as much of the resources tennis has financially," Coco Gauff said in the same press conference.
The American also advocated for video replays to be implemented at all levels of the sport, starting with the major events like the Grand Slams and WTA 1000 tournaments.
"So I definitely think that, you know, it should be, especially at the slams, it should be here and 1000 tournaments. Obviously I would like to see it across all levels, but I definitely would love to see it at the highest of levels first," she added.
Coco Gauff will kick off her title defense at the US Open against Varvara Gracheva. If the American emerges victorious, she will face Tatjana Maria or Solana Sierra in the second round, with a potential third-round clash with Elina Svitolina on the cards.