Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to contest specific calls made by the official, echoing the protocol currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development comes just a season following the AELTC implemented ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
