The All England Lawn Tennis Club in London is witnessing a historic shift as Wimbledon, for the first time in its 148-year history, has removed line judges from the competition. Organizers revealed last October that an electronic calling system would replace human officials, prompting mixed reactions from players and fans alike.
Pauline Eyre, who served as a line judge at Wimbledon on 16 occasions, vividly recalls her first experience at the tournament at the age of 21, feeling a “great feeling of pride” as she stepped onto the iconic grass courts. For Eyre, line judges were not only vital to the officiating process but also represented a unique aspect of the tournament’s charm.
“Line judges were part of the furniture of the court,” Eyre stated. “It takes away that bit for the players where they need to deal with adversity.” With the introduction of electronic line calling (ELC), players can no longer challenge a line judge’s call, a change Eyre believes detracts from the human element of the sport.
The switch to electronic calls aligns Wimbledon with other major tournaments, including the ATP and WTA Tours and the Australian and US Opens, though Roland-Garros is the only Grand Slam still utilizing human line judges for calls.
Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), emphasized the need for “maximum accuracy in our officiating” and to provide players with standardized conditions across all events. Andrew Jarrett, a former tournament referee, acknowledged that while the move towards technology indeed brings benefits, it also comes at a significant cost to the sport’s human element, potentially discouraging young officials eager to aspire to prestigious roles.
Mixed reactions from players have highlighted the divided opinions on this transformation. Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed in the women’s division, expressed her ambivalence, acknowledging she is “50/50” but leaning towards the electronic system. Defending champion Barbora Krejčíková preferred the traditional style, sharing a nostalgic view of the tournament’s history.
Despite some initial hiccups, such as electronic systems unexpectedly declaring points ‘out,’ the tournament has retained a small team of about 80 line judges as “match assistants” in case of any technology failure.
Since introducing Hawk-Eye technology in 2007, players have been able to challenge human line calls. Jarrett noted that the concept of eliminating line umpires was not actively discussed during his tenure. Eyre admitted that while she once felt her job was secure, the advent of such technology cast a shadow over the future of line judging.
The charm of traditional line judges, once seen as a quirky facet of the tournament, might now be appreciated more in retrospect. For Eyre, who has transitioned to a stand-up comedian using her experiences for material, the evolution of the game has stirred mixed emotions. “We just wanted to be part of something we loved,” she remarked, reflecting a sentiment shared by many who have relished the unique role of line judges at Wimbledon.
