Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the option to challenge particular rulings from the official, echoing the system currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a video and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
