Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the option to challenge specific calls made by the official, following the system already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.