Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to contest particular calls made by the official, mirroring the practice currently in operation at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development comes just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where fans have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
