The tournament joins the American and Aussie Opens in utilizing video review technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the ability to question specific calls made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice already in use at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the other four show courts when they are staging singles contests.
This move comes just a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to ask for the official to re-examine other decisions, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a ball touched an rival's racket or person during play.
- Possible hindrance at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can ask for.
Case in Point
An illustrative example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper conceded it was a tough situation for the official, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte watched a video and determined Draper was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at all of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at The Championships 2025 involves the addition of visual indicators on scoreboards to support the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where fans have sometimes been uncertain whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in the qualifying venue.
