Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships this year.
Athletes are granted the ability to question particular rulings from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in operation 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 other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development arrives only a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
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.
Additionally, 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 every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
