The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in implementing video review systems.
Video review systems will make its debut at The Championships in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes are granted the ability to challenge specific rulings made by the official, following the practice already in operation at each of the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
This technology is slated for use on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the other four featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This development follows just a season following the AELTC implemented electronic line calling, which terminated the centuries-old tradition of line officials.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the call of the ELC system, but they can ask for the official to re-examine other situations, including:
- Whether a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference at the conclusion of a point.
Importantly, there is no limit on the amount of challenges a competitor can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case took place in Indian Wells recently, where a top player initiated the video challenge against his opponent.
The British player admitted it was a tough situation for the umpire, but thought his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a replay and determined the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the rally to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
Video reviews aren't exclusive to major tournaments. The system was adopted at the US Open since 2023 and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the women’s WTA Tour, and by the coming year the men's ATP Tour plans to have video reviews implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another innovation at The Championships 2025 will be the addition of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the ELC system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure whether a ball was out or in.
In other news, with exactly 100 days remaining until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an expansion in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
