From Lindsay Davenport's press conference after her first round defeat of Katerina Srebotnik.
Q. Lindsay, as you probably know, the US Open is planning to use a form of instant replay this year. From what you know of it, do you trust what they're doing, that it's going to be a sure‑fire way of determining whether a call was good or bad? The challenge system that they've talked about, what is a fair challenge system, in your view?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, from what I've heard, they're trying, although the technology hasn't gone so well so far. I think they're giving it another try in July, and then going to see how that goes. I heard the last testing did not go well, whatever that means, from the USTA.
I think that the players have to know that it's a hundred percent accurate. And, unfortunately, with some of the devices they have now, there is a margin for error, although they don't tell you that on TV. And when you're dealing with I think it's five millimeters, I'm not exactly sure, while small, you want to know that it's going to be foolproof. 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 second, I'm really undecided about the challenge system. I think it's ‑‑ I understand the concern about having unlimited challenges. I think you'll have a lot of players abusing that at certain times in the matches. Although on clay we are allowed unlimited times to challenge.
The problem I have with having a limited amount of challenges is, you know, if you do go through your challenges, and a call like the call Serena got comes in later in a set, and you've already used it up, I don't think any fan would understand why a call like that is not reversed.
Second, I think as a player, you can control the balls that are on your side of the court. But for us to ‑‑ if we hit a good shot far baseline to try and like, you know, guessing if our ball's are in and out, we're there to play tennis, we're not supposed to worry about line calls and stuff.
I'm still undecided. I go back and forth on what the appropriate step to take is.
Q. Is it not easy, the lifestyle here? Being far away from home?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I'm much older now. I'm married. My husband cannot travel. It doesn't make much sense. I have some different priorities. Tennis is obviously on top, but being away for five to six weeks on time isn't part of our deal. I'm not going to do it.
I think I've been rather successful since I've been married and how I've done things. Wasn't really a tough decision at all. (the closest we'll ever get to trash talk from Lindsay Davenport)
See the whole interview, transcript and video, here.
