Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the option to contest specific decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
Case in Point
A recent case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major 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 ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
