French Open players watch themselves

PARIS – French Open players tired of watching their favourites movies on their laptops to relax between matches now have another option.

They can watch themselves play. Shortly after their matches, Roger Federer, Justine Henin and company are being handed a DVD containing analysis of their own performance.The product, developed by tournament long-time partners IBM, incorporates video supplied by the tournament’s host broadcaster, France Televisions.IBM indexes the footage by point and combines it with statistical information to help the players and coaches analyse their match.Players can, for instance, focus on watching just their aces or their forehand winners.They can also select important moments such as breakpoints or controversial line calls and watch a 3-D animation of their match.France Televisions also uses the technology developed for the DVDs and notably one innovation this year showing where a player’s serves land.The players love their DVDs, not because of oversized egos but because they help them review their strengths or weaknesses before their next match.When the DVDs were introduced last year, in a less sophisticated version, Andy Roddick, dejected after retiring in his first-round match against Alberto Martin, was the only player to refuse taking his.The DVDs are made available only to the players and their entourage but the fans in Roland Garros are busy chasing them.Nampa-ReutersShortly after their matches, Roger Federer, Justine Henin and company are being handed a DVD containing analysis of their own performance.The product, developed by tournament long-time partners IBM, incorporates video supplied by the tournament’s host broadcaster, France Televisions.IBM indexes the footage by point and combines it with statistical information to help the players and coaches analyse their match.Players can, for instance, focus on watching just their aces or their forehand winners.They can also select important moments such as breakpoints or controversial line calls and watch a 3-D animation of their match.France Televisions also uses the technology developed for the DVDs and notably one innovation this year showing where a player’s serves land.The players love their DVDs, not because of oversized egos but because they help them review their strengths or weaknesses before their next match.When the DVDs were introduced last year, in a less sophisticated version, Andy Roddick, dejected after retiring in his first-round match against Alberto Martin, was the only player to refuse taking his.The DVDs are made available only to the players and their entourage but the fans in Roland Garros are busy chasing them.Nampa-Reuters