Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the option to contest particular rulings made by the official, following the protocol currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
