The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in employing video review technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Athletes are granted the right to contest specific calls from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common 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.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
