The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes are granted the option to question particular decisions made by the official, echoing the protocol already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major 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 men's ATP Tour will have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
