Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in use at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development arrives only a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
