Wimbledon Adopts Video Replay System for the First Time.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the ability to challenge particular calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development comes just a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
