Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the right to contest certain calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club introduced ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent incident took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
