The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has announced that from 2025, Wimbledon will replace its line judges with automated line-calling technology. This new system will be used across all qualifying and main draw matches, marking a significant shift in the tournament's officiating practices.
The change means that the 300 line judges, who have traditionally officiated matches by calling shots ‘out’ and serves as ‘fault,’ will no longer be required. These judges, ranging in age from 18 to 80, have been a vital part of the Wimbledon experience, covering more than 650 matches over the two-week event. Starting in 2025, all 18 match courts will be equipped with automated electronic line-calling (ELC) technology.
As a result, Wimbledon’s long-standing Hawk-Eye challenge system, which was introduced in 2007 to allow players to contest calls made by line judges, will also be discontinued. Wimbledon is now following in the footsteps of other Grand Slam tournaments, such as the Australian Open and US Open, which introduced similar technology in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In addition to the technology change, Wimbledon has also announced a revised schedule for the final weekend of the tournament. From 2025, the men's and women's doubles finals will commence at 1pm, followed by the women’s and men’s singles finals at 4pm on the second Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Previously, the singles finals began at 2pm. This adjustment is aimed at attracting the “largest possible worldwide audience,” with particular attention on the US market, where the new 4pm start time in London will correspond to 11am in New York.
This move comes in line with the ATP’s recent decision to introduce electronic line-calling at all ATP Tour events from 2025 onwards. With this change, the French Open at Roland Garros will be the only Grand Slam to continue using traditional line judges.
AELTC Chief Executive, Sally Bolton, commented on the decision: “The introduction of Live Electronic Line Calling at The Championships was made after careful consideration and extensive testing. We believe the technology is now robust enough to ensure maximum accuracy in officiating.”
Bolton also acknowledged the historical role of line judges at Wimbledon, adding, “Line umpires have been central to our officiating for many decades, and we thank them for their valuable service.”
This development signals a new era for Wimbledon, blending the tournament’s cherished traditions with modern innovation.