Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay systems will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the option to contest specific rulings from the official, following the protocol already in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the official to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
