Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay technology are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Competitors are granted the right to question particular decisions made by the official, following the protocol already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use 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 follows just a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to review specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative case took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a video and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
