Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors are granted the right to contest certain calls made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
