Wimbledon Introduces Video Review Technology This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the option to question specific rulings made by the official, mirroring the protocol already in use at each of the US Open and the Aussie major.
The new system will be accessible on the main stadium and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development comes just a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which effectively ended the longstanding role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Players will not be permitted to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot made contact with an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Possible interference end of a point.
Importantly, there is no cap on the number of reviews a player can initiate.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the official, but believed his rival had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and determined the player was guilty of interference, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the US Open for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the ATP circuit will have the system in place at all of its events.
Other Changes
A further change at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of visual indicators on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This solves situations where fans have sometimes been unsure if a shot was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days to go until the start of the tournament, the AELTC have also revealed an expansion in daily capacity at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
