Wimbledon Introduces Video Challenge Technology This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in place at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which brought an end to the centuries-old role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to review other decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent incident took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and ruled the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships 2025 will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
