Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing video review technology.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the option to contest particular calls made by the official, mirroring the practice already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open 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 the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
