Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the right to challenge specific calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been uncertain if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
