The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in utilizing replay technology.
Video review systems are set to arrive at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Competitors will gain the right to challenge particular rulings made by the chair umpire, mirroring the protocol already in use at both the US Open and the Aussie major.
This technology will be accessible on Centre Court and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move arrives only a year after the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line judges.
Scope of Challenges
Players cannot to challenge the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot made contact with an rival's racket or body on the way past.
- Potential hindrance at the conclusion of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of reviews a player can request.
A Recent Example
A recent case occurred in Indian Wells recently, where Daniil Medvedev initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
Draper admitted it was a difficult situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules quite well."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of interference, granting the rally to Medvedev.
Broader Adoption
This technology aren't exclusive to major tournaments. It has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by next season the men's ATP Tour plans to have the system in place at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
A further 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 fans have sometimes been uncertain if a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
