The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to challenge specific decisions made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a season following the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian 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.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
