The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the option to contest certain decisions from the official, following the system already in place at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a player can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have occasionally been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
