Wimbledon organizers announced on Saturday the introduction of new technology that will allow players to directly challenge refereeing decisions, a first absolute in the 147-year history of the tournament, according to the BBC and Reuters.
New Video Review (VR) technology will be available to check specific scenarios that the automated line system cannot cover.
Thus, for the first time in the history of the tournament, players will be able to contest phases such as those in which the ball bounced twice, touched the opponent's body or racket, or situations in which a player touched the net. Tennis players will now have this right at Wimbledon, as they already can at the US Open and Australian Open.
“Players will have the right to review certain decisions made by the chair umpire either at the end of a point, when a player stops play immediately, or immediately after it has been completed,” tournament organizers said in a statement quoted by the BBC.
Also, unlike the classic lane system, players will not be limited in the number of revisions they can request. The technology will be available on six main courts, including Center Court and Court One (Center Court and Court 1).
In parallel, visual indicators will be introduced on the scoreboards at all courts that will clearly display the “out” and “foul” decisions made by the electronic system.
This year's edition of the Wimbledon tournament will start on June 29.
