Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review technology will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the option to question particular calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the system currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review other situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Case in Point
A recent example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev 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 effectively."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't 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 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 innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a ball 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 capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
