When A Jamea Jackson vs. Ashley Harkleroad Match Made Tennis History At The Miami Open

by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

The Miami Open has been one of the premier events in tennis since its inception in 1985 and has been the scene of numerous historic matches. One match that is one of the most significant in the sports history that fans perhaps don’t know of or remember came in 2006 and featured American players Jamea Jackson and Ashley Harkleroad when the event was named the NASDAQ-100 Open and played at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park.

The following is the summary of the historic match and happening as seen in my book “On This Day In Tennis History” (for sale and download here: https://a.co/d/7v7jwz4)

March 22, 2006 – American Jamea Jackson becomes a footnote in tennis history after she becomes the first player to challenge a line-call using the new “Hawk Eye” instant replay system in her first-round match with Ashley Harkleroad at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne, Fla. Jackson uses one of her two allowed challenges on the opening point of the second set after seeing a forehand she hits called out. The challenge is referred to another match official, who reviews replays of Jackson’s shot and confirms that the ball she hit was out. Says Jackson, “I just wanted to be first.” Jackson fights off a match point and beats Harkleroad 7-5, 6-7 (3), 7-5. Says Arlen Kantarian of the USTA, the driving force behind the implementation of electronic line-calling, “So far there’s 100 percent support, which is not always the case with a rule change for a game that has been around for 100 years. To be honest, we expected a little more controversy at first.”