Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the option to question certain decisions from the official, echoing the protocol currently in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review other situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of challenges a player can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use 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 men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
