Federer objects to new technology

World number one Roger Federer has voiced his objection to the replay system that could be introduced at this year's US Open in August.

World number one Roger Federer has voiced his objection to the replay system that could be introduced at this year's US Open in August.

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The United States Tennis Association (USTA) hopes to use the system which will allow chair umpires to inspect disputed line calls instantly during the course of a match on a computer screen.

"I have a very strong opinion about it. I'm absolutely against it," the U.S. Open men's champion said in Paris.

U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley has been attending the French Open to glean the opinion of the players after last year's quarter-final match between Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati was overshadowed by several officiating mistakes.

But Federer was adamant things should stay the way they are.

"I told him (Curley) about the difficulties? about how much money they will blow out by doing that because I think it's going to cost too much money," he said.

"We can use that for other reasons than (to settle) a couple of calls a match."

The USTA has held trials for the electronic line-calling aids and plan to run further tests in July after initial feedback did not prove too favourable.

"Players have to know that the system is 100 percent accurate," Davenport said earlier this week.

"If they can promise the players that, then that would be nice...but I don't know if they're going to be able to do that."

The situation in tennis mirrors that in soccer as new goal-line technology is set to be introduced in the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

In soccer, a "smartball" has been developed, which involves a microchip sensor in the ball sending a signal to the referee when it has crossed the goal line.

With officiating coming more and more under fire by disgruntled players and teams, authorities are keen to stamp out any question marks in their respective sports.

But Federer remained unconvinced.

"Every sport is different," he said.