Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the option to contest specific calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step follows just a season following the AELTC introduced ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
