Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players will gain the ability to challenge particular rulings from the official, mirroring the practice currently in place at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
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 hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a season following the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open for two years 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 plans to have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
