Wimbledon Adopts Video Replay System for the First Time.
The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the option to question certain rulings made by the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to review other situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible hindrance end of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent example occurred in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a difficult situation for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain if a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
