The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors are granted the right to contest particular rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in use at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court 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 move comes just a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have sometimes been unsure if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
