Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay systems will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the ability to question specific rulings from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol currently in operation at each of the US Open 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 featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. 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 ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
