Wimbledon Retires Line Judges After 148 Years, Fully Adopts Electronic Line Calling

The All England Lawn Tennis Club is set to implement a significant change, phasing out human line judges in favor of Electronic Line Calling (ELC) for the first time in its 148-year history. This transition marks a new era for the prestigious tournament, aligning it with the Australian and US Opens, which have already adopted the technology. The French Open remains the only Grand Slam to still employ line judges, owing to the unique mark shots leave on the clay surface.

The iconic Wimbledon line judges will be permanently replaced by Electronic Line Calling.

The decision to embrace ELC follows a trend across ATP and mixed-tour events, where its use is now mandatory. Wimbledon has been gradually integrating technology into its officiating for over 15 years, introducing the Hawk-Eye system in 2007. This allowed players on select courts to challenge line calls, adding a layer of drama to the matches.

With the full implementation of ELC across all courts, the option for players to challenge calls will be removed. However, players will still be able to request a replay of the decision on the stadium screens.

Wimbledon's usual team of 300 line judges has been reduced to 80 "match assistants." Two assistants will be assigned to each court, supporting the chair umpires and providing assistance should the ELC system experience any technical difficulties.

Sally Bolton, CEO of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), commented on the transition during a media briefing, stating that it was an "inevitable" evolution given the widespread adoption of the technology in other tournaments.

Over 450 cameras have been installed at Wimbledon and the qualifying tournament in Roehampton to ensure accuracy and comprehensive coverage.

Tournament director Jamie Baker believes this technological shift will enhance the Wimbledon brand. He highlighted the recognizable elements of Wimbledon, such as the green grass courts and the players' white attire, emphasizing the focus on the one-on-one, gladiatorial nature of the sport.