Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the option to question specific decisions made by the official, echoing the protocol already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
