Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the right to question particular rulings from the chair umpire, following the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move follows just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the official to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
