This year’s Wimbledon has begun with a historic absence: for the first time in 147 years, the tournament does not have line judges on the courts. Technological advances have led to the implementation of a camera and artificial intelligence system, bringing the London championship in line with other major tournaments such as the Australian Open and the US Open, as well as the ATP circuit. Roland Garros, for the time being, is keeping its line judges.

The new system, developed by Hawk-Eye, uses artificial intelligence to analyze images captured by up to 18 cameras, determining in tenths of a second whether a ball is in or out. At Wimbledon, decisions are announced with voice recordings of All England Club staff, adding a local touch to the experience. Although it will never be the same as before.

Curious reactions from Alcaraz and Fognini

The transition has not gone unnoticed by players and fans alike. Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini starred in a curious scene when they tried to question a decision made by the system, unaware that the option to request a review no longer exists. In the women’s draw, Yuan Yue said that the system’s voice was too low and asked the umpire to turn it up, although this was not possible.

The electronic system has introduced a new dynamic to the tournament. On court 18, for example, the voice announcing “fault” is that of a ball boy, while “out” is communicated by adult voices, both male and female. This variety has led to some curious situations and confusion among players, especially when the sound mixes between nearby matches. Sonay Kartal, after her victory over Jelena Ostapenko, acknowledged that when the crowd is very noisy, these sounds can go unnoticed.

Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, explained that the decision responds to the “need to evolve the tournament and ensure maximum accuracy in decisions.” Bolton stressed that “this is not a cost-saving measure, as the investment in technology has been considerable. In addition, some 80 former line judges have taken on new roles as match assistants, working alongside the chair umpires.”

Among spectators, opinions have been mixed. Some appreciate the accuracy and continuity of the animations in close calls. Others, however, miss the presence of the line judges and the human element they brought to the tournament atmosphere.