The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors are granted the right to question specific decisions made by the chair umpire, echoing the system currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club introduced ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where fans have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
