Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the right to question specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the system already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where the crowd have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
