Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay systems.
Replay technology will be launched at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the ability to contest specific decisions made by the chair umpire, mirroring the practice already in place at each of the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development follows just a season following the All England Club rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to challenge the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person during play.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there is no limit on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon 2025 will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
