Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players will gain the ability to question specific calls from the chair umpire, following the practice currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review specific situations, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where the crowd have sometimes been unsure if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
