Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to contest particular decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move comes just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
