Did you notice something different in the Round 1 match between Daniil Medvedev and Benjamin Bonzi at Wimbledon? Sure, we understand you were too engrossed in the intense match that was going on. But it may have struck some viewers that the people in the colorful blue-white striped shirts and the white trousers weren’t there like they used to be in the previous years. For those wondering why, it’s because Wimbledon has made a big decision to give technology a bigger role in the tournament. And it comes at the expense of a tradition that has continued for more than 100 years.

How has Wimbledon replaced the line judges?

As per the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), the electronic line calling (ELC) system will replace the line judges who used to be present on the court to call the faults and outs in the match. Instead, those calls will be made by the ELC machine in real-time. The players can even request a replay of the call on the screen. This step has been taken to improve the accuracy of the calls and make the game faster and more seamless.

But one may definitely make the claim about job losses that will ensue from the backing of technology and modernity. Well, the 300-odd pool of Wimbledon judges will now be replaced by 80 ‘match assistants.’ 2 such match assistants will be deployed for each match. Their task will be to support the Chair Umpire in matters relating to incidents on the court.

But that’s not at all. These match assistants will also be the standby umpires in case the ELC stops working. Well, many questions may be coming to your mind, like whether the ELC technology being deployed is foolproof and if there was at all a need. Rest assured, Wimbledon was the only GS besides the French Open who were using line judges. The ELC has been a popular introduction in the game for a while.

The history of ELC in tennis

The Live ELC officiating system has been used in the Australian Open and the US Open since 2021. The US Open, in fact, started the integration in 2020 itself. And Wimbledon decided to follow suit in 2024. AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton had this to say after making the decision in October 2024: “Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, we consider the technology to be sufficiently robust and the time is right to take this important step in seeking maximum accuracy in our officiating.”

Yes, even though the line judges were present at the 2024 Wimbledon, Hawkeye’s Live ELC was being evaluated for its accuracy in that Championship. Tests were carried out for any other discrepancies that may arise while in operation. As for addressing the issue of line judges being on the receiving end of a harsh outcome, the AELTC chief executive said it was an inevitable evolution. And that the judges were prepared for the outcome.

She further added, “We absolutely value the commitment that those line umpires have provided to the Championships over many years. And we do have a significant number of them coming back in a new role as match assistants, so we’re really pleased to have many of them still involved with delivering the championships.”And there are some other changes being implemented in the 2025 edition, too.

The Australian Open stopped using line judges in 2021, and the same thing happened in the US Open in 2022. The French Open now remains the only GS with line judges. It has something to do with the shots leaving an impression on the clay surface. This makes the job of the line judges easier, and the need for expensive technology an overkill. Although there have been some line-call controversies in the 2025 French Open, which may make people rethink. As for Wimbledon, it is a new beginning in 2025.