Wimbledon Adopts Video Replay Technology This Season.
The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the right to contest particular decisions from the official, echoing the practice already in operation at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent case took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
