Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Players are granted the right to contest specific decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
