Wimbledon Adopts Video Review System for the First Time.
Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review technology will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the option to challenge particular rulings from the chair umpire, following the practice currently in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development arrives only a year after the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.