Wimbledon Embraces Video Review Technology This Season.
The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review technology will be launched at The Championships this year.
Players are granted the option to challenge particular rulings from the official, mirroring the practice currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.