Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the ability to contest specific rulings from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development follows just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to review other decisions, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
