The hallowed lawns of Wimbledon have fallen silent this year as electronic line-calling systems completely replace human line judges, ending a 148-year tradition at the All England Club.
While technology promises accuracy, players and spectators alike are mourning the loss of the championship’s distinctive character.
The change, implemented last October following the Australian and US Opens’ lead, has drawn mixed reactions. China’s Yuan Yue voiced a common complaint after her first-round match: “The voice, I cannot really hear it, it is a bit too low. I asked the referee can you (turn) it up a little bit? He said he cannot. I don’t really mind, I just want to hear it clearly.”
For longtime fans like company director Fiona Jones, 52, the absence of the smartly uniformed officials leaves a void. “It was part of the joy of going to Wimbledon — the tradition. I just used to love it when they all walked out in their uniforms,” she said, noting the back of courts now seem “empty.”
The transition hasn’t just affected spectators. American star Frances Tiafoe lamented the loss of drama: “If I were to hit a serve on a big point, you go up with the challenge, is it in, is it out? The crowd is, like, ‘ohhh’. There’s none of that now.”
While over 450 cameras now make the calls, about 80 former line judges remain as match assistants, ready to step in if technology fails. Their displacement inspired Gabriel Paul, 26, and Harry Robson, 27, to protest outside the grounds with signs reading “AI took my job” and “Don’t sideline humans.”
“We’re students – we’re graduating in three months and worrying about the whole jobs market,” explained Paul, who received unexpected support from tournament staff.
Wimbledon officials remain optimistic about the change. Operations director Michelle Dite called ELC’s introduction “very successful,” while acknowledging: “There were one or two players that commented about the audio. And I think it’s really important that we review and monitor that all the time.”
