🔗 Share this article Wimbledon Adopts Video Challenge Technology for the First Time. The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in employing video review technology. Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition. Competitors will gain the option to question particular decisions made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open. The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests. This move arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials. Scope of Challenges Players cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, such as: If a ball has bounced twice. Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play. Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally. Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can ask for. Practical Application A recent example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper. Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well." Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent. Broader Adoption Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year. Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its tournaments. Additional Innovations A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system. This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out. Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.
The tournament joins the US and Australian Opens in employing video review technology. Video review systems will be launched at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition. Competitors will gain the option to question particular decisions made by the chair umpire, echoing the practice currently in use at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open. The new system will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles contests. This move arrives only a season following the All England Club implemented ELC, which terminated the 147-year tradition of line officials. Scope of Challenges Players cannot to dispute the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the umpire to review other decisions, such as: If a ball has bounced twice. Whether a ball made contact with an opponent's racquet or body during play. Potential interference at the conclusion of a rally. Importantly, there will be an unlimited number on the number of reviews a competitor can ask for. Practical Application A recent example occurred in Indian Wells last week, where a top player initiated the review system against Jack Draper. Draper admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his rival had "played the rules quite well." Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined the player was responsible for interference, awarding the rally to his opponent. Broader Adoption Video reviews aren't exclusive to Grand Slams. It was adopted at the American major since 2023 and the Australian Open this year. Furthermore, it is increasingly prevalent on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit plans to have the system implemented at all of its tournaments. Additional Innovations A further innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of visual indicators on displays to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system. This solves instances where the crowd have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out. Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifiers in Roehampton.