Wimbledon Introduces Video Review System in 2025.
The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the ability to challenge certain rulings made by the official, following the protocol already in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational 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 AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a video and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. The system 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 will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
A further innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.