Wimbledon Introduces Video Challenge System for the First Time.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in employing replay systems.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Athletes are granted the ability to challenge specific decisions made by the chair umpire, following the protocol currently in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and Court One for the duration of the Championships and on the other four featured courts when they are staging singles contests.
This step comes just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which terminated the longstanding role of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to review other situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can initiate.
A Recent Example
A recent example took place in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "used the regulations quite well."
The umpire viewed a replay and determined the player was responsible for hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open since 2025.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have video reviews in place at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where the crowd have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
