Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the ability to contest certain decisions made by the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a season following the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
A recent example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
