Wimbledon Embraces Video Review System for the First Time.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players will gain the right to contest particular rulings made by the official, echoing the system already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and Court One for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a year after the All England Club introduced ELC, which effectively ended the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to challenge the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine specific situations, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent incident took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the official, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This solves situations where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days remaining until the start of the Championships, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
