Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the option to challenge certain decisions from the official, following the practice already in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which terminated the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review specific situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
A recent incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
