Wimbledon Introduces Video Challenge System This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review technology.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the option to question certain calls made by the chair umpire, following the practice currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step follows just a season following the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine other decisions, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the number of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
