Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the right to question certain calls made by the chair umpire, following the protocol already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent example took place in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
