The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the right to question particular decisions made by the official, mirroring the protocol currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
