Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors are granted the option to question certain decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in use at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to review specific situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a player can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
