Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Video review technology are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Competitors are granted the right to question specific rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine other situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
