The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge particular calls made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
