logo
The fall of Wimbledon line judges: From split-second decisions to toilet trips

The fall of Wimbledon line judges: From split-second decisions to toilet trips

Metro11-07-2025
After 148 years, Wimbledon line judges have been replaced by AI, and their reduced roles as 'glorified butlers' has been nothing but sad.
Until this year, a group of around 300 tennis fanatics took two weeks off from their normal jobs for the honour of working at the world's most prestigious tournament. They were paid – but it was for pride – not money.
Bent over, hands on knees in their iconic and pristine outfits, they would stare intently for hours on end at their assigned tramlines, waiting in silence for the moment they could spring upright and shout: 'Out!'
But those days are over. This year, Wimbledon introduced an electric line-calling system (ELC) on all courts, quietly decommissioning the humans who once played such a visible role, essentially replacing them with robots.
The change is being sold as progress: fairer, faster, more accurate. Except, of course, when the technology isn't turned on, as happened in a now-infamous moment when a clear out ball was allowed to stand because no one had flipped the virtual switch. 'You cannot be serious' comes to mind.
What of the humans who once manned the lines? Some have been reassigned to what might generously be called support roles… They now pop open fresh tubes of balls and accompany players to the toilet, while a camera system called Hawk-Eye determines whether a ball is in or out.
For decades, these human officials were trained to spot the subtlest of margins, to keep their cool under pressure, and to deliver split-second decisions in front of millions. Now, they are mostly background noise.
Approximately 80 former line judges have been retained as 'match assistants' at Wimbledon this year.
'They are there to assist the umpire with the ball changes, so opening the cans of balls and supervising the ball kids – who don't need it,' former line judge Pauline Eyre told the Daily Mail about the new role.
'They take the players to the toilet, because when if player needs a toilet break, they have to have an official to go with them, because they're not allowed to receive treatment.
'[It was an] extremely skilled role. Now it's very nice, because they still get to be involved, but they're not using their extraordinary skills anymore…. [They are] glorified butlers.
'[Some match assistants] are finding it, quite frankly, boring, and sort of feeling the loss, the loss of all their colleagues.'
'The time is right for us to move on,' Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said before the start of the 2025 tournament.
'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.'
Taylor Fritz vs Karen Khachanov: The quarter-final match was halted while both players were in the middle of a rally due to a 'malfunction' with ELC. Wimbledon blamed the incident on the position of a ball boy.
Sonay Kartal vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova: The ELC system was accidentally turned off because of a 'human error'. While it was down, one of Kartal's shots landed long but was not called out, with the umpire forcing the players to replay the point in controversial scenes.
There's obviously logic behind the change. For the vast majority of calls it reduces error, removes bias and levels the playing field. But it also erases a human element that, while flawed, was part of the theatre in SW19.
The tense silence after a close serve. The dramatic pause before the call. The moment when a player's glare met a line judge's deadpan stare. That choreography is gone now. And in its place? An invisible computer voice, a digital judgement with no pause and no appeal.
Wimbledon may be looking to the future – but a few sidelined humans are still lingering courtside, wistfully watching the lines they once guarded.
After a series of glitches, there are genuine questions as to whether the All England Club should bring line judges back into their usual roles.
Russian player Khachanov, speaking after an electric line-calling malfunction in his defeat to Fritz, said: 'I'm more for line umpires, to be honest.
'I don't know. You feel a little bit [like the] court [is] too big, too alone without line umpires.'
Metro spoke to a number of Wimbledon fans about the reduced roles of line judges at the All England Club on Friday morning.
Brenda Price, 79, from South Wales, said: 'If they've been trained to be line judges, it's degrading isn't it? You could have a student doing that. I think we've lost some tradition without line judges. They were an integral part of Wimbledon.'
Stuart Billington, from Northampton, was asked if line judges had been humiliated and added: 'I would say so, yes. I think they should bring them back. If electric line-calling is not working, then you're got to back up straight away.'
Khachanov added: 'AI and electronic line calls has to be very precise and [make] no mistakes, but we've seen a couple.
'That's questionable why this is happening. Is [it] just like [an] error of the machine or what's the reason?
'Like today, I think there were a few calls. I don't know, very questionable if it's really touching the line or not. At the same time during one point, the machine called it just out during the rally. Sometimes it's scary to let machine do what they want, you know?'
Analysis from Metro's dedicated tennis reporter Liam Grace…
We appear to be at somewhat of a crossroads between AI and humanity. Not just at Wimbledon and not just in tennis – of course – but the Kartal vs Pavlyuchenkova incident was the perfect encapsulation.
Pavlyuchenkova's distrust in the Hawk-Eye system was clear for everyone to see as she wondered aloud if Kartal's shot, which had clearly landed long, was not called out because she was British.
That wasn't the case at all – it was because the system had been accidentally turned off – but our lack of trust in technology remains fascinating and doesn't appear to be going away any time soon.
It begs the question, If ELC can go this wrong, especially on Centre Court at Wimbledon, then should tennis go back to human line judges?
The answer, sadly, is probably not. At the end of the day, all of the other biggest tennis tournaments in the world are using Hawk-Eye… It would probably look a little strange to keep line judges at just one event.
Jamie Murray, speaking exclusively to Metro, is adamant that most players would rather have electric line calling than line judges.
'Players overall would rather have electric line calling than line judges,' Murray said. More Trending
'There's 18 courts going at all times through the day. The system might work for 10 million calls but then it fails on one or two – and if it happens on a show court or whatever – maybe it blows up more than it should.
'It's the same system we've been using for the whole year and at all the other major events. There's not been many issues as far as I've been aware (outside of Wimbledon) so it's been working fine through the year.
'I don't think it's been a failure. It's far from being a failure. Wimbledon has had some issues with the set up but we've been playing with it the whole year with no problems so it's not a thing that's happening week-to-week like football where it's always talked about. I don't think it's a major issue.'
So, it looks like line judges aren't coming back. Hey, at this rate, the ball kids might be next. Somewhere in a Wimbledon basement, someone's probably prototyping a device that can whizz across the grass hoovering up stray balls like a souped-up version of Hungry Hungry Hippos.
MORE: 'My heart is bleeding' – Wimbledon champion upset by major tennis change
MORE: Iga Swiatek or Amanda Anisimova? Martina Navratilova's prediction for 'close' Wimbledon final
MORE: Wimbledon finalist slammed for breaking unwritten tennis rule
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

GB win freestyle relay for first 2025 Worlds gold
GB win freestyle relay for first 2025 Worlds gold

BBC News

timea day ago

  • BBC News

GB win freestyle relay for first 2025 Worlds gold

Great Britain won their first gold medal at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore with victory in the men's 4x200m freestyle champions Matt Richards, James Guy, Jack McMillan and Duncan Scott triumphed in the final race of day six in six minutes and 59.84 was roared home by his team-mates in the final leg, finishing more than one second ahead of his Chinese opponent, with Australia placing win means GB reclaim the world title they won in have a chance of another medal later this week after Ben Proud maintained his hopes in the men's 50m freestyle, coming through the semi-finals sixth fastest with a time of Evans placed fifth in the final of the women's 200m breaststroke, while Luke Greenbank came eighth in the men's 200m backstroke Houlden narrowly missed out on a medal in the men's 3m springboard final, finishing fourth. Earlier, China's Qin Haiyang celebrated a second gold at the championships in the men's 200m breaststroke final, punching the air before standing with his arms spread wide to soak up the acclaim of a crowd packed with Ippei Watanabe won silver and Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands took 26, won the 100m breaststroke earlier in the week and is returning to form after flopping at last year's Paris Olympics, where he did not make the final of the 200m preparations for the Games were thrown into turmoil when he was implicated in a major doping scandal.A report named Qin among 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for a prescription heart drug before the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in swimmers were not sanctioned as the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) accepted the argument of Chinese authorities that the positive tests were caused by contaminated defending champion Marrit Steenbergen denied 200m champion Mollie O'Callaghan a sprint double as the Dutchwoman won the women's 100m champion Hubert Kos won a fierce battle against South Africa's Pieter Coetze in the men's 200m backstroke 200m breaststroke gold went to another reigning Olympic champion, the American Kate powered to victory in a championships-record 2:18.50, ahead of the Russian world record holder Evgeniia Chikunova (2:19.96) and Kaylene Corbett of South Africa (2:23.52).

British Athletics Championships 2025: Schedule, start times and how to watch on TV
British Athletics Championships 2025: Schedule, start times and how to watch on TV

The Independent

timea day ago

  • The Independent

British Athletics Championships 2025: Schedule, start times and how to watch on TV

The British Athletics Championships 2025 take place in Birmingham this weekend with Team GB hopefuls hoping to book their seat on the plane to Tokyo. With the World Championships later on in September, athletes will also have a chance to chase a standard after this weekend. Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is still working her way back from injury and misses the championships, meaning Georgia Hunter Bell is the favourite over two laps as she decides which event to run in Tokyo, with the potential for an audacious double after winning a superb bronze in Paris last summer. While Jake Wightman has been forced to pull out through sickness, leaving his place on the team in jeopardy, and Josh Kerr, as defending world champion from Budapest, will run the 5,000m at British Championships. Here's the schedule and start times over the two-day event: When and where is the UK Athletics Championships 2025? The UK Athletics Championships are over 2-3 August at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. How can I watch the UK Athletics Championships 2025? You can watch the UK Athletics Championships on BBC iPlayer, Red Button and the BBC Sport website with a live stream on the app for mobile devices. Saturday, 2 August 11:20 - 19:30 Uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app 11:20 - 14:50 & 17:00 - 19:30 Live coverage on Red Button Sunday, 3 August 11:20 - 17:00 Uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app 11:20 - 16:45 Live coverage on Red Button Day 1 - Saturday 2 August 11.30 400m Hurdles Women Heats 11.57 Javelin Throw Men Final 12.00 400m Hurdles Men Heats 12:28 Universal Relay Mixed Final 12.36 100m Women Heats 13.16 Triple Jump Women Final 13.18 100m Men Heats 13.58 High Jump Men Final 14.00 800m Men Heats 14.23 Discus Throw Men Final 14.25 800m Women Heats 14.50 100m Hurdles Women Heats 15.15 Pole Vault Women Final 15.21 400m Men Heats 15.48 Long Jump Men Final 15.52 400m Women Heats 16.15 100m Women Semi-Final 16.23 100m Women Semi-Final 16.31 100m Women Semi-Final 16.39 100m Ambulant Men Final 16.44 Hammer Throw Women Final 16.47 100m Men Semi-Final 16:55 100m Men Semi-Final 17.03 100m Men Semi-Final 17.12 100m Hurdles Women Final 17.22 1500m Men Heats 17.50 1500m Women Heats 18.16 Shot Put Men Final 18.20 3000m Steeplechase Women Final 18.36 5000m Women Final 19.02 800m Wheelchair Women Final 19:12 100m Women Final 19:20 100m Men Final Day 2 - Sunday 3 August 11.30 Javelin Throw Women Final 11:35 5000m Race Walk Men and Women Final 12:10 100m Ambulant Women Final 12.17 Triple Jump Men Final 12.20 110m Hurdles Men Heats 12.47 High Jump Women Final 12:50 200m Women Heats 13.18 200m Men Heats 13.22 Discus Throw Women Final 13:50 Pole Vault Men Final 13:55 400m Hurdles Women Final 14:05 400m Hurdles Men Final 14:10 Long Jump Women Final 14:15 1500m Ambulant Men Final 14:25 1500m Wheelchair Men Final 14:34 3000m Steeplechase Men Final 14:47 5000m Men Final 15.07 Hammer Throw Men Final 15:10 110m Hurdles Men Final 15.15 Shot Put Women Final 15:20 200m Men Final 15.30 200m Women Final 15:40 400m Men Final 15:50 800m Women Final 16:00 400m Women Final 16:10 800m Men Final 16:20 1500m Women Final 16.30 1500m Men Final

Coe's record under threat as Burgin builds momentum
Coe's record under threat as Burgin builds momentum

BBC News

timea day ago

  • BBC News

Coe's record under threat as Burgin builds momentum

UK Athletics ChampionshipsVenue: Alexander Stadium, Birmingham Dates: 2-3 AugustCoverage: BBC iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website & app. View coverage details Whatever happens next, Max Burgin will make sure he experiences Tokyo this record-breaking 23-year-old has already booked an end-of-season holiday to explore Japan, a country he has always wanted to though, he will do so with a World Championship medal in his his issues over recent years, Burgin is not taking anything for granted before this weekend's crucial UK Athletics Championships in not to jinx his momentum, he is only willing to admit this is "definitely the best first half of a season I've had in a long time", speaking to BBC signs are indeed extremely promising. Only four men worldwide have run faster than Burgin this year, after he lowered his personal best to one minute 42.36 seconds when following the reigning Olympic and world champions over the line at the London Diamond time is within 1.5 seconds of David Rudisha's 2012 world record, and made him the third-fastest British man in was the latest indication the Halifax athlete is beginning to uncover his true potential, having smashed world, European and British records as a junior."I've had a lot of hurdles and haven't necessarily progressed in the same way people had hoped for me back then, but I'd like to think I'm over a lot of the challenges of the past five or six years," says Burgin."Finally, I am getting back to the trajectory that I was showing when I was younger and breaking all these records." Comparisons were drawn to British middle-distance greats Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram as Burgin broke through - doing so at the same time as Olympic 800m champion Keely careers have taken rather different paths, with a combination of injuries and bad luck leading Burgin to fear his early promise was "slipping away"."There were a lot of parallels in our development," he adds. "Obviously her career has absolutely taken off and maybe mine has stalled a little bit."But, looking at what she's achieved and knowing that I have that same sort of ceiling, that definitely gives me confidence. Knowing that, one day, I'll be able to get up there."Burgin lost 12 months, and missed the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, with hamstring and groin injuries. A calf issue - later diagnosed as deep vein thrombosis - then denied 2022's fastest man the chance to compete for a world eventually debuted on the global stage in Budapest two years ago, despite struggling with a nerve issue affecting his Achilles, and last summer became the first British man to reach the Olympic 800m final since the 2012 Games in London. Burgin and his father Ian, also his coach, have grown accustomed to setting short-term considering his big ambition for this World Championship year amid a period of relative consistency, he says he will "definitely be gunning for a medal" should he make the final in itself is no easy feat, amid expectations the current generation will soon surpass Kenyan Rudisha's once seemingly untouchable time of 1: have that opportunity, Burgin must first finish in the top two in Sunday's final at the British trials, where world bronze medallist Ben Pattison, also 23 and the second-fastest Briton in history, is among the pair are also rapidly closing in on Lord Coe's 44-year national record of 1: having already removed more than a second from his personal best this year, that is a mark now firmly on Burgin's radar as he strives for the global medals his talent has long promised."It feels achievable at the moment, 0.6 seconds is a lot when you're getting down to these faster times, but it's not impossible," he admits."There are a few fast races to go this season and I'll definitely be wanting to have a go at that. "It's very likely that, if you want to challenge for a World Championship medal, you'll need to be running a British record with the way the times are going."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store