Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the option to contest specific decisions made by the official, following the practice currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step follows just a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can request the official to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
