Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing video review systems.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the option to contest particular decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
A recent case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 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 plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
