Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to challenge particular calls made by the official, mirroring the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining 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 tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted 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 video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
