Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to challenge particular decisions from the official, mirroring the protocol currently in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step follows just a season following the All England Club introduced ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the official to review specific situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
