Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Players are granted the option to question certain decisions from the official, echoing the system already in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move follows just a year after the AELTC introduced ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
