Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the ability to contest specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to review specific situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a player can request.
A Recent Example
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system 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 ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Further Updates
A further innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
