Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the ability to question particular rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move follows just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis 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 rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, 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 all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
