Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the right to question specific rulings made by the official, following the system currently in place at each of 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 show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can request the official to review other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, granting 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 women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
