The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the right to contest particular calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development comes just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
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 all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
