The tournament joins the American and Australian Opens in employing replay technology.
Video review technology are set to arrive at Wimbledon for the 2025 edition.
Players will gain the ability to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol currently in place at both the American Grand Slam and the Australian Open.
The new system will be operational on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the Championships and on the remaining featured courts when they are staging singles matches.
This step follows just a year after the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors cannot to dispute the call of the ELC system, but are allowed to request the umpire to review specific situations, including:
- Whether a ball has bounced twice.
- Whether a shot touched an opponent's racquet or body on the way past.
- Potential interference end of a rally.
Importantly, there will be no limit on the number of challenges a player can request.
Practical Application
A recent case occurred in a recent tournament recently, where a top player initiated the review system against his opponent.
The British player conceded it was a tough situation for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
Official Aurelie Tourte viewed a video and determined Draper was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
This technology are not new for major tournaments. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Additionally, 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 implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Other Changes
Another change at Wimbledon this year will be the addition of graphical cues on displays to support the verbal announcements from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where spectators have occasionally been unsure if a shot was in or out.
In other news, with exactly a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, organizers have also announced an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
