Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the ability to challenge specific calls made by the official, following the system already in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC rolled out electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the number of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
