Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge certain calls from the official, following the practice already in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can request.
Case in Point
A recent example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
