The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the option to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, following the system already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another change at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
