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 are granted the right to challenge specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the practice currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched 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 challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It was adopted 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 men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
