Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review technology.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the ability to challenge specific decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in operation at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition 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 official to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have occasionally been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
