Wimbledon Introduces Video Review Technology This Season.
The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay systems will make its debut at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Competitors are granted the ability to challenge certain decisions from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol currently in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 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 video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
