147-Year Tradition Ends: Wimbledon Replaces Line Umpires with AI Starting Next Year

The convenience brought by artificial intelligence is set to transform the Wimbledon Championships, as human line judges will be phased out. On October 9, the All England Club announced that starting in 2025, electronic systems will replace approximately 300 line judges who have served the tournament for 147 years. Currently, Wimbledon is the only major tournament that hasn’t bid farewell to human line judges, following suit with the other Grand Slam events.

Line judges, responsible for determining whether a ball is in or out, have traditionally played a vital role in tennis matches. They observe the ball's landing on designated lines and promptly relay their judgments to the referee and players, typically through verbal announcements or hand signals. This practice has become a distinctive feature of Wimbledon.

According to reports, the All England Club will use technology for calls concerning "out" balls and "faults," eliminating reliance on human decisions. This choice was made after extensive testing during the 2024 tournament, aimed at enhancing existing ball tracking and boundary decision technologies.

The new automated electronic line calling (ELC) system, which will be used in all 18 competition courts including the Centre Court, promises to improve decision-making reliability by relying on technology instead of human eyes. The system, which mirrors the one used in the US Open since 2020, delivers automatic voice calls within a tenth of a second after the ball bounces.

Sally Bolton, CEO of the All England Club, expressed confidence in the technology, stating, “It is sufficiently advanced, providing players with the same conditions they experience in other tournaments.” The unique uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren for the line judges since 2006 have become an iconic symbol of the Wimbledon culture.

Though many traditionalists view line judges as integral to the tournament, Bolton emphasized the club's responsibility to strike a balance between tradition and innovation. “For decades, line judges have been central to our officiating framework. We recognize their valuable contributions and deeply appreciate their commitment and service.”

Veteran line judge John Parry reflected on the change, saying, “It’s a bittersweet feeling. Some, like Federer, have always appreciated the human element, believing that line judges are an essential part of the match. Now, beyond announcing the score, the referee has little else to do.”

This shift towards automation highlights Wimbledon’s commitment to embracing technological advancements while acknowledging its deep-rooted traditions.