Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Players will gain the right to challenge specific rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club rolled out electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, 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 in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon 2025 involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
