Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing video review systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the right to contest specific rulings made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to review specific decisions, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
