The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the ability to contest certain decisions made by the official, following the practice currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development comes just a season following the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, 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 The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
