Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a player can request.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
