Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay technology will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the ability to contest specific calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. It was adopted 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 the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction 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 uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
