Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, echoing the system currently in place at each of 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 tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
