Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the ability to contest certain calls made by the chair umpire, following the practice already in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
