Wimbledon To Increase Number of Challenges

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lordmanji

Guest
most sensible move ever.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -Wimbledon will give players three chances per set to challenge line calls using video technology at this year's tournament - one more than the U.S. and Australian Opens.

Wimbledon is introducing the Hawk-Eye system on Centre Court and Court No. 1 at the June 25-July 8 championship for the first time.

The existing cyclops technology will be moved to courts 2, 14 and 18. Cyclops, which has been used at Wimbledon since 1980, uses infrared beams to help determine if serves are in or out.

Wimbledon announced last month it would follow the lead of the U.S. and Australian Opens in introducing Hawk-Eye, but did not say how many challenges players would get. The French Open, which begins Sunday, will not use the system.

``The extra potential challenge recognizes both the importance of the service on a grass court and the fact that cyclops will not be deployed on the service line this year,'' All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie said Wednesday.

``Statistics also show that players have been very sensible in their use of the technology so far, and it is right to grant them additional opportunities to use this highly accurate assistance.''

Large screens will show line-call replays on the two courts at Wimbledon. Each player or doubles team is allowed a maximum of three incorrect challenges in a set. If the set goes to a tiebreaker, the players are given an additional challenge.

In the fifth set for men's singles and doubles, and the third set for all other events, the slate is reset if the score is tied 6-6, with each side able to make up to three incorrect challenges in the next 12 games.

Wimbledon said chair umpires can refuse ``an electronic appeal'' if they believe the challenge was not made quickly enough. The umpire can also request a replay if the line judge was unable to make a call on a point-ending shot.

Hawk-Eye will also be introduced at the Queen's Club grass-court warmup for Wimbledon. The tournament will adopt the same protocol as Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Fernando Gonzalez are among those entered.
 

dbc244

New User
That's interesting, will it make itmore exciting or more boring. Of course at RG players can have as many 'challenges' as they like by asking the umpire to come down & check the mark, though naturally they willhave checked the mark they believe it is first.
 
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