Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Players will gain the option to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology are not new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
