Wimbledon Embraces Video Review Technology This Season.
The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the right to question specific decisions made by the official, following the system currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development arrives only a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to review specific decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, 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.
Further Updates
A further change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where the crowd have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.