Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors are granted the ability to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology are not new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
