Wimbledon Introduces Video Replay Technology This Season.
The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review technology are set to arrive at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Athletes will gain the right to challenge specific rulings from the official, mirroring the practice already in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development arrives only a season following the AELTC implemented ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent incident took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This solves instances where spectators have sometimes been unsure if a shot was in or out.
Finally, with precisely 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
