Wimbledon Adopts Video Challenge Technology for the First Time.
The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the ability to challenge specific calls from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move follows just a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent example took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
