Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge specific rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation 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 comes just a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour 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 addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
