The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the ability to contest certain decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
