Wimbledon Adopts Video Replay System This Season.
The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in employing video review technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors are granted the option to challenge particular calls from the official, echoing the system already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of challenges a player can initiate.
Case in Point
An illustrative example took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the official, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted 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 next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships 2025 will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
