Wimbledon will replace all 300 line judges from next year with AI technology; Watch all the ATP and WTA action on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+ which is integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
Wednesday 9 October 2024 18:33, UK
Wimbledon will replace all 300 line judges with artificial intelligence and an electronic system from next year, removing human officials for the first time in the championship's 147-year history.
The All England Club has confirmed all 18 match courts will be installed with automated electronic line calling (ELC).
The system will be the same as the one used at the US Open since 2020, where automated voice calls are played out within a tenth of a second of the ball landing.
As a result of the change, it is expected that Wimbledon's Hawk-Eye challenge system - brought into use in 2007 - where players could review calls made by the line judges will be removed.
In recent years, 300 line judges aged between 18 and 80 have been used at Wimbledon to cover 650 matches over a two-week period.
"The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation," said Sally Bolton, chief executive at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
"Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating. For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.
"We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously. 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."
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.
Sky Sports Tennis' commentator Jonathan Overend:
"It is sad, it's quite quaint having the line judges there in their regalia at the side of the court and with the calls going on we'd never have had the John McEnroe 'You cannot be serious' if the robots had guarded the line 40 years ago.
"But it is inevitable because what's happening on the tennis tours next year is automatic line calling is coming in as a matter of course, so the robots will be guarding the lines.
"It's been a success in the tournaments this year, it really does work. People thought it wouldn't work as well as it has done but it undoubtedly works so the grand slams can't be left behind.
"It's already in place at the Australian Open and the US Open so the big question was what were Wimbledon going to do. It will be a huge change and it will mean that the battalion of line judges will have to find something else to do for a fortnight which is a shame because for so many of them that has been their dream moment of the year for decades in some cases."
Wimbledon have also announced they are adjusting the schedule to their final weekend.
For 2025, the men's and women's doubles finals will start at 1pm, followed by the women's and men's singles finals at 4pm on the second Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The singles semi-finals schedules will remain the same, while the slot for the mixed doubles final will also remain as the third match on the second Thursday.
Bolton said: "We have adjusted the provisional schedule for the final weekend of The Championships with the ambition of improving the experience for all involved.
"The doubles players competing in the finals will have increased certainty over their schedule and fans will enjoy each day's play as it builds towards the crescendo of the ladies' and gentlemen's singles finals, with our champions being crowned in front of the largest possible worldwide audience."
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
