Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the ability to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the system already in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, 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 events.
Further Updates
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
