Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the ability to contest specific decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step follows just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
