Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Competitors will gain the ability to contest particular calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a player can request.
A Recent Example
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
