Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay technology will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to challenge particular rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent case took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
