Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the ability to question particular decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
