Wimbledon Adopts Video Replay System for the First Time.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to question particular decisions made by the chair umpire, echoing the system already in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development follows just a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent case took place in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.