Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to challenge certain calls from the official, mirroring the practice already in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move follows just a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to review other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years 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 plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships 2025 will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
