Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay systems will make its debut at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the option to challenge particular calls made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move follows just a season following the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
