Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Players are granted the right to challenge specific calls from the official, echoing the system already in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the longstanding role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
