Wimbledon Introduces Video Replay System for the First Time.
The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in implementing video review technology.
Video review technology will be launched at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players are granted the option to contest particular calls made by the chair umpire, mirroring the practice currently in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and Court One throughout the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire watched a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have video reviews in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
