Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing video review systems.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships this year.
Competitors will gain the ability to question certain rulings made by the official, echoing the protocol currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use 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 matches.
This step comes just a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to review other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of challenges a player can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open 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 video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
