Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the ability to contest specific decisions made by the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move follows just a season following the All England Club introduced ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
