Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge specific rulings made by the official, mirroring the practice already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move arrives only a season following the All England Club rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
