Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review systems will be launched at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the right to question certain decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the system currently in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This step follows just a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and ruled the player was responsible for interference, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie 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 implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
