Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review technology will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the ability to question certain decisions made by the chair umpire, following the protocol already in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
