Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Competitors are granted the option to contest specific rulings made by the official, following the practice already in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move comes just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can request the official to review other situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian 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 in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
