Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players will gain the ability to question certain rulings from the official, echoing the system currently in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC introduced ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
