Wimbledon ushers in a new era, with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) confirming the introduction of video review technology from the 2026 edition. The move marks a significant shift for the traditionally conservative Grand Slam, as players will now be able to challenge certain on-court decisions.
The system will be implemented on six courts, including Center Court and Court No. 1, along with four other courts, ensuring that it will be played in key matches. Following in the footsteps of the US Open and Australian Open, Wimbledon’s move comes amid growing demand for more consistent officiating. In an official statement, the AELTC explained how the system will work.
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“Players will be able to review a specific Referee decision (such as ‘no-up’, ‘foul shot’, ‘touch’) either on the termination call when the player stops play immediately, or immediately after the point is completed (in the case of an obstruction).
“Players will not be limited in the number of reviews they can request. This improvement was made as a result of feedback following the adoption of live electronic calling last year.”
The addition of video review is part of Wimbledon’s wider shift towards modern officiating. The tournament has already moved to a fully electronic line-calling system, replacing traditional linesmen, although the switch has drawn criticism after several major issues during its initial launch.
HOW WILL THE WIMBLEDON REVIEW WORK?
The video review system will operate separately from the electronic line call that decides whether the ball is in or out. Instead, they’ll focus on the referee’s tricky decisions – like double bounces, touches or possible obstructions during rallies.
Players can request a review as soon as a point is reached or immediately when a decision ends the game. There is no limit to how many times they can challenge, giving them more freedom to challenge close calls.
This feature will be available on Center Court and Court One throughout the tournament, while Courts 2, 3, 12 and 18 will use it during singles matches. Wimbledon will also make things clearer for fans by adding better visual cues to the scoreboards for ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls.
The move comes after a controversial moment in 2025 involving Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sonay Kartal where a technical foul was criticized.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
21 March 2026 20:14 IST
