Wimbledon Introduces Video Replay Technology This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Players are granted the ability to question specific calls made by the official, mirroring the practice already in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development follows just a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which brought an end to the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
