Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the ability to question certain calls from the official, mirroring the protocol currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development comes just a year after the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, 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 ask for the umpire to review specific situations, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of reviews a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
