The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Competitors will gain the option to contest particular rulings made by the official, following the system currently in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move comes just a year after the AELTC implemented ELC, which effectively ended the 147-year role of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the umpire to review other situations, including:
- If a tennis ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a difficult call for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire watched a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews are not exclusive to major tournaments. It was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a ball was in or out.
Finally, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
