The All England Club has announced that starting from next year, line judges will no longer be present at Wimbledon matches, as the tournament adopts electronic line calling. This decision marks a significant departure from tradition, as line judges have been a fixture at the prestigious Grand Slam event for 147 years. The use of electronic line calling was first experimented with at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Milan in 2017 and has gained wider acceptance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Australian Open and US Open have already implemented electronic line calling, while the French Open still relies on human line judges. The introduction of the Hawk Eye Live Electronic Line Calling (Live ELC) system at Wimbledon aims to provide maximum accuracy in officiating, according to All England Lawn Tennis Club chief executive Sally Bolton. Players will now have the same conditions they experience at other major tournaments.
While the decision to eliminate line judges has been welcomed by players, it has saddened traditionalists who appreciate the human element in officiating. Additionally, the Hawk Eye challenges, where players can request a video review of close calls, will also be discontinued. Chair umpires will continue to be part of the matches.
The electronic system, powered by AI technology, responds rapidly to determine whether a ball is in or out. This is considered to be more precise than human line judges, who often have to dodge fast serves. The use of electronic line calling is a strategic move to improve accuracy and efficiency in officiating Wimbledon matches. The upcoming tournament in 2023 will be the last to feature traditional line judges, as the new system will be fully implemented by the following year.
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