The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the ability to question certain decisions from the official, following the protocol currently in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step follows just a season following the AELTC introduced ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
