Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the ability to contest specific decisions from the official, following the protocol currently in operation at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step comes just a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to review specific decisions, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
