Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge certain calls made by the chair umpire, mirroring the system currently in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to review other situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can request.
Practical Application
A recent case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain whether 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 announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
