Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Players are granted the right to contest particular decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice already in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
