Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
