Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the right to contest particular rulings made by the chair umpire, following the system already in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
