Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to contest particular calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the system currently in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move comes just a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common 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.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
