Wimbledon Introduces Video Review Technology This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the ability to challenge specific rulings from the official, echoing the practice currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
A Recent Example
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
