Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes are granted the ability to question specific rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
