Wimbledon will follow the US and Aussie Opens in employing replay technology.
Replay technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon this year.
Athletes will gain the option to challenge particular decisions made by the chair umpire, following the practice already in place at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This move follows just a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the 147-year role of line officials.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors cannot to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- If a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and determined Draper was responsible for interference, granting the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology are not new for Grand Slams. It has been in use at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another innovation at The Championships 2025 involves the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves situations where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
