Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology will be launched at The Championships this year.
Players are granted the ability to challenge specific calls from the official, echoing the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
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 in place at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
