The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the ability to question certain rulings made by the official, mirroring the practice currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
