Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge certain rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the system currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the official to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
