Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge specific rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the protocol currently in place at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
