Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the option to question specific decisions made by the official, mirroring the system already in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a video and ruled the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
