Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Competitors are granted the ability to contest specific decisions from the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
