Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in utilizing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge specific rulings from the official, following the practice already in use at both the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
This innovation is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the official to re-examine specific situations, including:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a shot touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Notably, there is no cap on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
Practical Application
A recent example took place in a recent tournament last week, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and ruled Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further innovation at The Championships this year involves the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly a century of days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
