Historic change: Wimbledon will use video review for the first time

Wimbledon will take a key step towards modernization in its 2026 edition, which will begin on June 29. The All England Lawn Tennis Club confirmed the implementation of a video review system on several of its main courts

.

The main innovation will be the introduction of a technology similar to VAR, which will allow us to review controversial plays during games. It will be available at the Central Stadium and on courts 1, 2, 3, 12 and 18, and can be used to evaluate situations such as double pitches, net touches, field invasions or if the ball hit a player's body before crossing the net. Unlike the traditional “hawk's eye”, limited to determining if the ball was good or bad, this system will encompass dynamic actions

of the game.

As explained by the organization, there will be no limit to the number of revisions that tennis players can request, with the objective of “ensuring that sports justice prevails at all times”. The decision comes after the controversy that occurred in 2025 during a match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sonay Kartal, when a failure in the electronic line system generated confusion and criticism due to the lack of clear answers

.

The changes will also reach the public. The British Grand Slam will incorporate visual indicators into the electronic scoreboards of all courts, where “out” and “missing” faults will be clearly displayed, especially in contexts where sound may not be sufficient to

warn arbitration decisions.

The ambitious expansion plan

In parallel, the club is moving forward with an unprecedented structural transformation. After a favorable ruling by the High Court of London, the use of the Wimbledon Park land was enabled, allowing for a significant expansion of

the property.

The project involves the construction of new grass courts and a large capacity stadium with a retractable roof, designed to ensure the continuity of games on

days affected by rain.

In this way, Wimbledon seeks to balance its historic tradition with an increasing openness to innovation, in an attempt to improve both sports justice and the experience of players and spectators.