Wimbledon Introduces Video Review Technology for the First Time.
The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to challenge certain rulings from the official, echoing the practice already in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development comes just a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled the player was guilty of interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon 2025 will be the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where the crowd have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
