The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge specific decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the practice already in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the official to review specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
