Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the right to contest specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review other situations, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
