Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships this year.
Players will gain the option to contest particular calls made by the official, following the system currently in place at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step comes just a season following the All England Club implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the official to review specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a player can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and ruled Draper was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon 2025 will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
