Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the ability to contest certain rulings from the chair umpire, echoing the system already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move follows just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to review other situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
