Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the option to question certain calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use 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 contests.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC introduced ELC, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
