Wimbledon Introduces Video Challenge System This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the right to contest particular decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol currently in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Further Updates
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
