Wimbledon Replaces Line Judges with Electronic System in Major Shakeup

Wimbledon announced on Wednesday that it will replace its iconic line judges with electronic line-calling, marking a significant shift in the tradition of the grass-court tournament. The smartly dressed umpires and line judges, just like the strawberries and cream and the all-white attire, have been a long-standing symbol of the Grand Slam event. However, Wimbledon is now following the trend of other tournaments worldwide, aiming to strike a balance between “tradition and innovation.”

In 2023, the ATP Tour announced that electronic line calling (ELC) would be used throughout the tour from 2025 to “optimise accuracy and consistency across tournaments.” Following suit, the All England Club confirmed that it would implement live ELC starting in 2025.

In a statement released Wednesday, Wimbledon said, “The officiating technology will be in place for all Championship and qualifying match courts, covering the ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls previously made by line umpires.”

Tournament officials explained that the decision to adopt ELC was based on extensive testing carried out during this year’s Championships.

All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said, “The decision to introduce live electronic line calling at the Championships came after careful consideration and consultation. Having reviewed this year’s testing results, we believe the technology is now robust enough, and the time is right to enhance accuracy in our officiating.

“For the players, this will provide the same conditions that they have experienced at numerous other tour events.”

Bolton emphasized the importance of balancing tradition with innovation at Wimbledon, acknowledging the key role line umpires have played over many decades: “Line umpires have been integral to our officiating for years, and we greatly appreciate their dedication and service.”

In addition to the introduction of ELC, the All England Club announced that the men’s and women’s singles finals would start later, at 4:00 pm local time (1500 GMT) during the tournament’s final weekend.

Next year’s Wimbledon is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 13.