Wimbledon chiefs blasted by line judge after breaking 147-year tradition and putting 300 jobs at risk
A tennis line judge has blasted Wimbledon chiefs over their decision to replace them with Artificial Intelligence in 2025.
It was confirmed earlier this week that those at the All England Club had decided to use AI, rather than line judges, at the prestigious tournament going forward.
It is a major break of tradition, especially given how line judges have been prominent at the tournament ever since it first started a huge 147 years ago.
The move to use live electronic line calling has also put 300 jobs at risk.
A tennis line judge has blasted Wimbledon chiefs over their decision to replace them with Artificial Intelligence in 2025
PA
All England Club chief Sally Bolton confirmed the news by saying: “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.
“For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.”
She continued: “Line umpires have played a central role in our officiating set-up at the championships for many decades.
“And we recognise their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”
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Now, a line judge has spoken out about the decision.
Wendy Smith, who has worked in the sport for 40 years and covered Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon triumph in 2013, believes chiefs should have informed them before breaking the news.
And she’s revealed her sadness at the decision to abandon tradition in favour of modernising the sport.
“I imagine the All England Club has made this decision because the players want the consistency of computerised decisions – though several of them didn’t like Hawk-Eye at all when it came in,” she told The Guardian.
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“But there’s so much that a human line judge does that a computer just can’t offer.
“We certainly keep up tennis’s traditions – I think we make the court look fully dressed. And spectators can learn a lot about the game when they can see the discussions between a line judge and the chair umpire. All of that will be lost.
“I’m not saying we never make mistakes – we’re human, after all. But we hold ourselves to a very high standard.”
She continued: It’s sad to think that I won’t have a moment like that again [seeing Murray win Wimbledon].
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Wimbledon line judges are set to become a thing of the past following the decision to use AI insteadPA
“I won’t get to stand on Centre Court.
“And I wish they could have told us before this year’s tournament so that we’d have a chance to say goodbye.
“I’ll always love tennis, but I don’t think I could bear to go to Wimbledon now as a spectator.
“It just wouldn’t have the same atmosphere.”
Wimbledon will not have human line judges next yearPA
Wimbledon is set to start on June 30 next year.
Carlos Alcaraz is the reigning men’s champion, having beaten Novak Djokovic in straight sets earlier this summer.
Barbora Krejčíková defeated Jasmine Paolini in the women’s final.
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