Wimbledon Adopts Video Review System for the First Time.
The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing video review systems.
Replay technology will be launched at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the right to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This development comes just a season following the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its events.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships 2025 will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
