The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the ability to contest certain rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the protocol currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative case took place in Indian Wells 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 rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
