Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to challenge specific calls from the official, echoing the system already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to review specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
