Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Competitors are granted the ability to challenge particular rulings from the chair umpire, following the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system 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 men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
