Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Competitors are granted the option to question particular decisions from the official, following the protocol already in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court 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 development follows just a year after the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to review specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a player can request.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
