Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the option to contest certain decisions made by the chair umpire, following the system already in place at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move comes just a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine specific situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
