Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the ability to question specific calls made by the chair umpire, following the system currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the All England Club implemented ELC, which brought an end to the longstanding role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine specific decisions, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no cap on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent example took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
