Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to question certain calls from the chair umpire, mirroring the practice already in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This innovation will be accessible on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move follows just a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review specific situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a tough call for the official, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the ATP circuit will have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another innovation at The Championships this year involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
