The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors are granted the right to question specific calls made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol currently in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move comes just a year after the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can request.
Practical Application
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
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
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure if a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
