The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the ability to challenge specific decisions made by the chair umpire, following the protocol already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the official, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
