Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Competitors will gain the right to contest specific decisions made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review specific situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It 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 men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
