Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the ability to contest particular rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the AELTC introduced ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
