Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the right to contest particular calls made by the official, echoing the practice currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review other situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
