Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Replay systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the ability to question particular calls from the chair umpire, echoing the system already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review specific situations, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have the system in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
