Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the right to challenge certain calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review other decisions, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of challenges a competitor can request.
Case in Point
A recent case took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player used the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was responsible for hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at all of its tournaments.
Further Updates
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
