The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Replay technology will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to challenge certain rulings made by the official, echoing the system already in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step comes just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
