Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review technology will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Players will gain the ability to challenge particular decisions made by the official, echoing the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step comes just a year after the All England Club rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific situations, such as:
- Whether a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can request.
Practical Application
An illustrative case took place in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, granting the point to his opponent.
Wider Implementation
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. The system was adopted at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at Wimbledon 2025 involves the introduction of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a ball was in or out.
In other news, with precisely a century of days remaining until the start of the tournament, organizers have further announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
