Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors are granted the option to challenge specific calls from the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move comes just a season following the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
A Recent Example
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major 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 ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.