Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge specific calls made by the official, following the protocol currently in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian 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 every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
