Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the ability to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move follows just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding tradition of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
