Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to challenge particular calls made by the official, mirroring the protocol currently in place at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
