Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the ability to question certain rulings from the chair umpire, following the system currently in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move follows just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It 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 ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
