Six Wimbledon showcourts will introduce new video review technology for this year’s Championships. The All England Club has confirmed that tennis’ version of VAR will be available for players competing on Centre Court, No.1 Court, No.2 Court, No.3 Court, Court 12 and Court 18.

Video reviews are already available at most other big events on tour, and allow players to review specific judgment calls made by the umpire, including a ‘not up’, a double bounce, or a touch. This technology will be available on Centre and No.1 Court throughout the tournament, and on other show courts until the conclusion of all singles matches on those courts.

Players will have unlimited requests, and must ask for a video review either on a point-ending call, when a player immediately stops play, or – in the case of hindrance – immediately after the completion of a point.

Wimbledon also introduced automatic electronic line calling (ELC) last year, following the rest of the Grand Slams and big events. Following feedback, they will now introduce visual indicators for ELC on the scoreboards of all courts for all matches across the main draw and qualifying, which will show ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls.

The announcement comes as video reviews have been in the spotlight following a contentious incident in British No. 1 Jack Draper’s Indian Wells quarter-final match against Daniil Medvedev.

With Draper serving at 5-5 0-15 in the second set, Medvedev successfully won a point after requesting a video review to check whether the Brit hindered him during their quarter-final match, even though the point continued for several shots after the hindrance. It has since been reported that the ATP are looking at this rule, but at Wimbledon, players will be able to request this review immediately after the point is completed.

Renowned tennis journalist Jon Wertheim recently posted: “Two @atptour rule changes to watch: a) video review of hindrance *after the point* (a la Medvedev/Draper) … (in effect no longer trialled) b) Video review challenges are unlimited *but* chair “will retain control over the process” and has discretion to deny unreasonable requests.”

After Medvedev’s successful review, he was awarded the point and took a 0-30 lead on Draper’s serve. The No. 11 seed went on to break and closed out a 6-1 7-5 victory to move into the semi-finals. When they met at the net for the handshake, Draper told his opponent: “I’m not [mad at you] at all. But I don’t think it distracted you enough.”

Medvedev went on to stun world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, becoming the first man this year to beat the Spanish star. He ultimately finished runner-up to Jannik Sinner. But the video review incident sparked debate, with many questioning whether Draper really hindered Medvedev, and whether the Russian should have been allowed to ask for a review at the end of the point.

Martina Navratilova told Sky Sports: “He didn’t stop playing. And I don’t agree with reviewing it, like, three points later. If it bothers you, you need to stop playing right there, and now you have an argument. But I think he wanted to see if he can win the point, and then when he lost it, then he called for the hindrance, and then the umpire gave it to him.”

Speaking on The Player’s Box Podcast, WTA No. 5 Jessica Pegula said: “I think it’s kind of stupid to be able to go back and challenge something. I like it for double bounces. I think that is okay because obviously if it was a double bounce and you won the point, that’s fair. But for hindrance, it is a little weird that you can literally lose the point five or six shots later and go back. I don’t blame Daniil, I just think it’s a bad rule. I don’t think he meant to cheat the system, really.”

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page