Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships this year.
Athletes are granted the ability to contest certain decisions made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a player can request.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
