The umpire had to call for an old-fashioned coin to toss when the electronic scoreboard failed to register a result at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Russia’s Elina Avanesyan and Emma Navarro from the United States were getting set for their round of 16 women’s tennis tournament match on Wednesday afternoon when the coin conundrum occurred.
Gone are the days when a coin is flipped in the air and a designated player calls heads or tails.
In this high-tech era, it’s all done on screen.
A player calls heads or tails – or, technically, in this case, the acronym ‘ASB’ or ‘WTA’ after the championship’s sponsor and the game’s governing body.
Then a match official presses a button. Soon after, the courtside big screens should both light up with identical images.
Unknown/Supplied
The electronic scoreboard coin toss didn’t work properly before a round of 16 match between Emma Navarro and Elina Avanseyan at the ASB Classic women’s tennis tournament.
Except they didn’t in this case. One displayed ‘heads’, the other ‘tails’.
That left both players and the match umpire, Nico Helwerth from Germany, somewhat bemused in the centre of the court.
“Hum, that’s a bit strange,’’ Helwerth said. “I think we are going to flip a normal coin.’’
He returned to the court with the requisite silverware and tossed it in the air. Navarro made the correct call, opting to serve.
Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Emma Navarro on her way to beating Elina Avanesyan at the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland on Wednesday.
Navarro, 22, went on to win, 6-1, 6-2.
At the post-match press conference Navarro said there had been “a little confusion’’ over the coin toss.
“One screen said ASB and the other said WTA. I had chosen ASB. A little mix up there, but we got the physical coin out there to flip, so it was settled.”
It proved a lighter moment, but the problem was quickly resolved.
The electronic coin toss worked a treat for the next match between the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova and Amanda Anisimova (USA).
