Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay technology will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to contest particular decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
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 matches.
This move comes just a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
