The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay systems are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Competitors will gain the right to contest specific calls from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
