The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players are granted the right to question certain rulings made by the chair umpire, following the system already in operation at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can request the umpire to review other situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body during play.
- Possible interference at the conclusion of a point.
Notably, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can initiate.
Case in Point
A recent incident occurred in Indian Wells recently, 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 rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
Video reviews are not new for 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 the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at all of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at The Championships this year will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
