Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the option to question certain decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system 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 the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at every one of its events.
Further Updates
A further innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
