Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Replay technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the option to question specific rulings made by the chair umpire, echoing the system already in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This innovation is slated for use on the main stadium and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to review other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the amount of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Practical Application
An illustrative incident occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of interference, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Wider Implementation
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the US Open for two years 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 plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
A further change at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
