The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Competitors are granted the option to challenge specific rulings from the chair umpire, following the practice currently in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to review specific decisions, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Case in Point
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
