Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the right to contest particular decisions made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
A recent example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where the crowd have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
