Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Players will gain the right to challenge specific rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in place at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Notably, there will be no cap on the number of reviews a player can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
