Wimbledon is to replace all of its line judges with Live Electronic Line Calling from 2025, the tournament’s organisers have said.
In a major break from tradition, the championships will follow the lead of the other Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open and US Open, as well as a number of other tour events.
Hawk-Eye technology has been used on certain courts at Wimbledon since 2007, helping officials and allowing players to challenge line calls.
From 2025, the system will be fully automated across the entire site, including during qualifying at Roehampton.
It means line judges will no longer be required for the first time in the tournament’s 147-year history.
The All England Club’s chief executive Sally Bolton said organisers went through “a significant period of consideration and consultation” before deciding to make the switch.
Testing was carried out at last year’s event, Ms Bolton said, and after seeing the results, the club has decided the technology is “sufficiently robust” to move to a fully automated system.
Not even John McEnroe could win an argument with a computer
Only the players now surely cannot be replaced by AI.
The march of technology in sport has claimed the most traditional of Wimbledon sights after strawberries and cream – line judges.
They’ve been there since the first championship 147 years ago – standing smartly behind the players, silent mostly apart from the shouts of “out”.
But the human eye is no match for the Hawk Eye Live Electronic Line Calling system.
Calls can now be made in an instant, to perfection.
A tool used initially to aid TV coverage has removed the need for human officiating and errors.
Wimbledon’s hand has been forced by the ATP mandating the tech at all events from next year.
And what would be the point of just leaving line judges there for show – to promote the All England Club’s clothing sponsor.
A pathway has been removed to becoming umpires, who remain in place for now.
But for how much longer, as artificial intelligence becomes more intelligent?
“You cannot be serious?” John McEnroe famously shouted during an outburst at Wimbledon back in 1981.
The American was known for his clashes with umpires during his career.
But not even McEnroe himself could win an argument with a computer.
For all those in football complaining about referees – and VARs overseeing the tech – tennis is showing a glimpse into the future.
Even traditions part of a sport’s furniture can become obsolete.
She said it means players will be competing under the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.
The club takes its responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon “very seriously,” she added.
“Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades and we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”
Carlos Alcaraz won the men’s singles in 2023. File pic: PA
The French Open, which has relied solely on human officials, is now the outlier, although it may well follow suit, with all ATP Tour events to feature the technology from next year.
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One major concern for Wimbledon had been the loss of a prestigious opportunity for officials and the effect this could have at the lower levels of the sport.
In another change to the schedule, next year’s singles finals will move from 2pm on the final Saturday and Sunday to 4pm, with the men’s and women’s doubles finals to be held first at 1pm.
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