Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to contest certain decisions made by the official, following the system already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move arrives only a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which terminated the centuries-old role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
