Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to contest certain calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move follows just a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent case occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
