Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the ability to question particular decisions made by the official, mirroring the system already in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
