Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Players will gain the option to challenge certain rulings made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to review other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another change at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
