Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing video review systems.
Replay systems will make its debut at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the option to challenge particular decisions from the chair umpire, following the system already in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review other situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
