Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors are granted the option to challenge specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the practice currently in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the AELTC introduced ELC, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie 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 video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation 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 spectators have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
