Line judges are set to disappear from Wimbledon after the All England Club opted to introduce electronic line calling from 2025.
The new technology will be used in all qualifying and main draw matches for next year’s Championships, replacing the on-court line judges who called shots “out” and “fault” for serves who have been in place for 147 years of the competition’s history.
Wimbledon’s decision comes after the ATP decided to adop Electronic Line Calling Live across the men’s tour for 2025 in the interests of greater accuracy and consistency.
The women’s WTA Tour is moving in the same direction and with the Australian Open and the US Open having already adopted electronic line calling in 2021 and 2022 respectively, with Wimbledon increasingly becoming an outlier in that regard.
“The decision to introduce Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made following a significant period of consideration and consultation,” the All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said.
“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.
The AELTC has announced operational updates for next year’s Championships, relating to the final weekend schedule and the use of Live Electronic Line Calling.
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— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) October 9, 2024
“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.”
There will also be a significant change to the scheduling at SW19, with the men’s and women’s singles finals starting at the later time of 4pm rather than 1pm.
The men’s doubles final on the Saturday and women’s doubles final on the Sunday will now start at 1pm, in line with the other Grand Slam’s scheduling.
“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,” Bolton said.
