Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the right to contest certain decisions from the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development comes just a season following the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific decisions, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. 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 the coming year the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at every one of its events.
Additional Innovations
Another change at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
