The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the ability to challenge certain calls made by the chair umpire, following the protocol already in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the number of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
