Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors are granted the right to challenge particular decisions from the chair umpire, following the system already in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use 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 move follows just a year after the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to review specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
