Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players will gain the option to question specific rulings made by the official, following the protocol already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
