Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to contest particular rulings made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in place at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the longstanding role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
