Wimbledon Adopts Video Challenge System This Season.
The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the option to contest specific decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the practice already in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the AELTC introduced ELC, which brought an end to the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at Wimbledon 2025 involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
