Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review technology.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the ability to contest particular decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use 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 ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
