Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to challenge certain decisions from the official, mirroring the practice already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a player can request.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology are not 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 WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
