Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the right to challenge certain rulings from the official, following the system currently in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a player can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
