Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players will gain the option to contest particular calls from the official, echoing the protocol currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations 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 beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
