Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the option to question certain rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in use at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
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 development arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the longstanding role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Notably, there will be no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the official, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews are not new for Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open 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 in place at every one of its tournaments.
Further Updates
A further change at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
