Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Competitors will gain the option to question specific calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice already in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
