Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon this year.
Competitors will gain the option to contest certain decisions made by the chair umpire, following the system already in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC introduced ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of reviews a player can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
