Wimbledon’s iconic tradition of having line judges in uniform will come to an end in 2025, as the All England Club has announced the introduction of artificial intelligence to make ‘out’ and ‘fault’ calls.
This shift follows extensive testing at the 2024 tournament and builds on the ball-tracking and line-calling technology already in use.
Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, explained that the decision was driven by the pursuit of maximum accuracy in officiating. She highlighted that players have already experienced similar technology at other tournaments, making it a seamless transition.
Despite the change, Bolton emphasized that Wimbledon is still focused on balancing tradition with innovation, acknowledging the long-standing role of line umpires and expressing gratitude for their service.
Additionally, starting in 2025, the scheduling for the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles finals will be adjusted to begin at 4 p.m. local time, following the doubles finals.
This change aims to give the singles finals a grander climax and attract the largest global audience possible for the crowning of Wimbledon champions.
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