Wimbledon Adopts Video Challenge System This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the option to contest certain calls from the official, mirroring the protocol already in use at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
A recent example took place in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at all of its events.
Further Updates
Another change at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
