Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the right to question particular decisions from the official, echoing the practice currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review specific decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
