The tournament joins the US and Aussie Opens in implementing replay technology.
Replay systems are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the option to contest certain rulings from the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are staging singles matches.
This development follows just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players cannot to challenge the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to re-examine other situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball made contact with an rival's racket or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a rally.
Notably, there will be an unlimited number on the number of challenges a player can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative example took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a replay and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Growing Trend
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its events.
Additional Innovations
A further innovation at Wimbledon 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been uncertain if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also announced an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
