Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to contest specific calls made by the official, following the practice already in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step follows just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the official to re-examine specific situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no limit on the number of challenges a player can request.
A Recent Example
A recent case took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
