Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review technology.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the right to contest specific calls made by the official, echoing the system currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of challenges a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. 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 the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at every one of its events.
Further Updates
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
