U.S. Open apologizes to Serena after overrule

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- U.S. Open organizers have apologized to Serena Williams for a controversial line call in her quarterfinal loss to Jennifer Capriati on Tuesday.

Williams' hit a backhand well inside the sideline at deuce in the opening game of the third set that was called good by the lineswoman but overruled by umpire Mariana Alves.

The third seed, who lost the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 initially thought Alves had simply called the score wrongly, but the Portuguese umpire confirmed to USTA officials that she had overruled.

"I called Serena," said Arlen Kantarian, the Chief Executive of Professional Tennis. "I apologized for the call, the overrule -- which was a clear mistake -- and told her how important she was to the U.S. Open, how she was a class act and how well she handled the situation last night.

"She was very appreciative of the call."

U.S. Open Tournament Director Jim Curley confirmed an earlier statement by the USTA that Alves would not officiate in any further matches at the tournament.

"It was a mistake but she is a very experienced umpire and mistakes get made out there," said Curley.

"She was under consideration for another match, a women's match, but we decided that it was in the best interests of the tournament (that she stand down)," he said.

The furor over the overrule and other line calls that went against Williams in the match has renewed calls for technology to be used to assist the umpires in close decisions.

"The USTA, WTA, ITF and ATP have been exploring new technology for 20 years," Kantarian said.

"We actually tested some technology, called Auto-Ref, in the qualifying tournament, so we are definitely looking into it."

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