October, 2024
Wimbledon says goodbye to line judges. The traditional Grand Slam tournament is switching to the so-called Electronic Line Calling Live after 147 years. Using that technology, the balls will be given out.
Wimbledon will use the technology at all qualifying and main tournament matches. The system replaces line judges, who were responsible for judging balls given out and errors on a serve.
In past years at Wimbledon, players could request challenges when they doubted a call from a line judge. That option will now expire with the introduction of the Electronic Line Calling Live system.
“Following the results of tests carried out at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently reliable. We feel this is the right time to take this important step in the pursuit of maximum accuracy in our arbitration,” said Wimbledon director Sally Bolton. “For the players, it provides the same conditions under which they have played at a number of other events on the tour.”
Roland Garros is now the only Grand Slam tournament that still has line judges next to the court. The next Wimbledon tournament will be held in London from June 30 to July 13 in 2025.