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Business Recorder
a day ago
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Wimbledon's human touch yields to electronic eyes but officials embrace new role
BENGALURU: The All England Club's decision to jettison line judges in favour of technology carries an air of inevitability as the world embraces AI but the human arbiters of the boundaries of the tennis court are hoping to continue playing a key role. Convention has almost been a religion during Wimbledon's 148-year history but advancements in technology have been impossible to resist with live Electronic Line Calling (ELC) set to take over from impeccably-attired line judges when action begins at the grasscourt major on Monday. The tournament's once-robust pool of around 300 line judges has been cut to 80 and they will serve as 'match assistants', who support chair umpires and step in should the ELC - powered by more than 450 cameras - fail in any of the 18 courts in use. The Association of British Tennis Officials (ABTO) said the new position, which will be adopted at events that use live ELC, provided a fresh avenue for its officials with strong interest expressed in the role. 'Whilst this evolution has resulted in a reduction in the overall officiating days for line umpires, the impact has been partially offset by the creation of the match assistant position,' the ABTO told Reuters via email. The body noted that although line judges will no longer be used at Wimbledon or ATP tournaments, there were still opportunities for them at other levels including at many WTA events and ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments. French taxi drivers threaten airports, French Open tennis in standoff Interest in the traditional role is likely to be sustained with the pathway to becoming a match assistant on the grandest stage involving training as line umpires. First deployed as an experiment at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in 2017, the ELC system was adopted more widely during the COVID-19 pandemic before eventually being used across all ATP Tour events from this year. The Australian Open and U.S. Open have also replaced line judges with ELC, but the French Open has not favoured the switch despite the availability of technology specific to claycourts as traces left by the ball help umpires with their decision-making. Largely popular The ELC system is largely popular among the players even if some, including world number one Aryna Sabalenka and three-times Grand Slam finalist Alexander Zverev, expressed their disbelief at decisions during the recent claycourt season. Tournaments relying on the human eye are not entirely immune to controversial calls, however, and the All England Club's move that comes after extensive testing last year is likely to only ruffle the feathers of the most staunch traditionalists. Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said it understood the decision amid changes to officiating globally and expressed its commitment to continue developing officials in the country going forward. 'We are working with the ABTO to develop a joint strategy that will ensure officials can be retained within the sport, new officials can be recruited and the officiating community will be supported through the changes,' the LTA said. Line judges often bring their own theatrical element to the sport with their distinctive voices, postures, and interactions with players but All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said many of them understood that change would come. 'The time is right for us to move on,' said Bolton. 'We absolutely value the commitment that those line umpires have provided to the Championships over many years. 'We do have a significant number of them coming back in a new role … so we're really pleased to have many of them still involved with delivering the Championships.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon: 2-time champ Carlos Alcaraz, No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic lead the men's field
Ben Shelton of the U.S. returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during the semifinal of the Stuttgart tennis Open in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday June 14, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) Serbia's Novak Djokovic hits a backhand during a practice session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on June 30th, in London, Monday June 23, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Taylor Fritz of the USA plays a return to Germany's Alexander Zverev in their men's singles final tennis match of the Stuttgart Open, Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) Britain's Jack Draper plays a return to Brandon Nakashima of the United States, during the quarterfinal match of the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Carlos Alcaraz of Spain stretches to play a return to Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan) Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik during their round of 16 match at the Halle ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, Thursday June 19, 2025. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik during their round of 16 match at the Halle ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, Thursday June 19, 2025. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) Ben Shelton of the U.S. returns the ball to Germany's Alexander Zverev during the semifinal of the Stuttgart tennis Open in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday June 14, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) Serbia's Novak Djokovic hits a backhand during a practice session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on June 30th, in London, Monday June 23, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP) Taylor Fritz of the USA plays a return to Germany's Alexander Zverev in their men's singles final tennis match of the Stuttgart Open, Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) Britain's Jack Draper plays a return to Brandon Nakashima of the United States, during the quarterfinal match of the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Carlos Alcaraz of Spain stretches to play a return to Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during the men's singles final of the Queens Club tennis championships in London, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan) Italy's Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik during their round of 16 match at the Halle ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, Thursday June 19, 2025. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) LONDON (AP) — A look at some of the top men at Wimbledon, which starts at the All England Club on Monday, with money-line odds via BetMGM Sportsbook: Jannik Sinner Seeding: 1 Career-Best Ranking: 1 Country: Italy Advertisement Age: 23 2025 Record: 19-3 2025 Titles: 1 Career Titles: 19 Grand Slam Titles: 3 — Australian Open (2: 2024, 2025), U.S. Open (1: 2024) Last 5 Wimbledons: 2024-Lost in Quarterfinals, 2023-SF, 2022-QF, 2021-1st, 2019-Did Not Play Aces: Enters Wimbledon having lost two of his past three matches — the five-set, 5 1/2-hour epic in the French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, and on grass at Halle, Germany, against eventual title winner Alexander Bublik. ... Returned in May at the Italian Open from a three-month doping ban he agreed to after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed his exoneration in the case. Advertisement He Said It: "We try to delete it somehow and take the positive and keep going. There are no other ways." — On his loss to Alcaraz in Paris after holding three championship points. Read All About It: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz take their rivalry to Wimbledon Odds Are: +180 Carlos Alcaraz Seeding: 2 Career-Best Ranking: 1 Country: Spain Age: 22 2025 Record: 42-5 2025 Titles: 5 Career Titles: 21 Grand Slam Titles: 5 — Wimbledon (2: 2023, 2024), French Open (2: 2024, 2025), U.S. Open (1: 2022) Last 5 Wimbledons: 2024-Won Championship, 2023-W, 2022-4th, 2021-2nd, 2019-Did Not Play Aces: Takes a career-best 18-match winning streak into Wimbledon, including a title at the Queen's Club grass event this month. ... 5-0 in Grand Slam finals. ... Defeated 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in each of the past two title matches at the All England Cup. ... Tweaked his service motion and his backhand swing recently — and those changes appear to be working well. Advertisement He Said It: 'At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. That's my main goal. That's my dream right now.' — On his big-picture goals after winning Wimbledon a year ago. Read All About It: Carlos Alcaraz says he wants to 'get closer to the legends' Odds Are: +130 Jack Draper Seeding: 4 Career-Best Ranking: 4 Country: Britain Age: 23 2025 Record: 28-8 2025 Titles: 1 Career Titles: 3 Grand Slam Titles: Zero — Best: Semifinals, U.S. Open (2024) Last 5 Wimbledons: 2024-2nd, 2023-DNP, 2022-2nd, 2021-1st, 2019-DNP Aces: Enjoying a real breakthrough season, including a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells and a run to a Masters 1000 final on red clay at Madrid, along with a rise into the top 10. ... Only the second left-hander — Rafael Nadal is the other — to reach the top five since 2000. ... Fitness issues from early in his career seem to be behind him. Advertisement He Said It: 'I live and breathe the sport, and I'm obsessed with progressing and obsessed with becoming the player that I want to become all the time and achieve the things I want to.' — On his outlook. Read All About It: Jack Draper wins the trophy at Indian Wells and reaches the top 10 Odds Are: +900 Taylor Fritz Seeding: 5 Career-Best Ranking: 4 Country: United States Age: 27 2025 Record: 21-11 (Entering Eastbourne tournament) 2025 Titles: 1 Career Titles: 9 Grand Slam Titles: Zero — Best: Runner-Up, U.S. Open (2024) Last 5 Wimbledons: 2024-QF, 2023-2nd, 2022-QF, 2021-3rd, 2019-2nd Aces: Won a grass-court title at Stuttgart, Germany, without dropping a set in June. ... His run to the U.S. Open final last year marked the first appearance in a Grand Slam final by an American man since Andy Roddick was the runner-up to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2009. Advertisement He Said It: "I've always said: Once I do something once, I just feel a lot more confident in being able to do it again.' — On getting to his first major final. Read All About It: Taylor Fritz's appearance in a Grand Slam final was a long time coming for US men Odds Are: +2800 Novak Djokovic Seeding: 6 Career-Best Ranking: 1 Country: Serbia Age: 38 2025 Record: 21-8 2025 Titles: 1 Career Titles: 100 Grand Slam Titles: 24 — Wimbledon (7: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), Australian Open (10: 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023), French Open (3: 2016, 2021, 2023), U.S. Open (4: 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023) Advertisement Last 5 Wimbledons: 2024-Runner-Up, 2023-RU, 2022-W, 2021-W, 2019-W Aces: Will try again to equal Roger Federer with eight Wimbledon championships (Martina Navratilova owns the singles record with nine women's titles) and win a record 25th Grand Slam trophy overall. ... Has reached the final in each of his most recent six appearances at the All England Club, earning titles in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, before losing to Alcaraz the last two years. ... Last exit before the final was in 2017, when Djokovic was beaten by Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. He Said It: 'In the face of adversity, normally I rise and I learn and get stronger. That's what I'm going to do.' — After his loss to Alcaraz in the 2024 Wimbledon final. Read All About It: Novak Djokovic vows to get better after losing the 2024 Wimbledon final Advertisement Odds Are: +600 Ben Shelton Seeding: 10 Career-Best Ranking: 10 Country: United States Age: 22 2025 Record: 19-13 (Entering Mallorca tournament) 2025 Titles: Zero Career Titles: 2 Grand Slam Titles: Zero — Best: Semifinals, U.S. Open (2023), Australian Open (2025) Last 5 Wimbledons: 2024-4th, 2023-2nd, 2022-DNP, 2021-DNP, 2019-DNP Aces: Made his debut in the top 10 of the ATP rankings in June, giving the United States three men in that elite group for the first time since 2006, when Andy Roddick, James Blake and Andre Agassi all were that high. ... A semifinalist at the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in 2023. ... Dangerous lefty serves and big forehand should make him dangerous on the slick grass. Advertisement He Said It: "I love playing at the biggest events. Love playing at the Slams. They always have the best crowds, more energetic crowds, the best atmosphere." — On his approach to tournaments. Read All About It: Ben Shelton's first Grand Slam semifinal came at the 2023 U.S. Open Odds Are: +4000 ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Beaten Zverev 'satisfied' with his tennis ahead of Wimbledon
German tennis player Alexander Zverev reacts after losing to Russia's Daniil Medvedev in their Men's singles semi-final tennis match during the Terra Wortmann Open. David Inderlied/dpa Alexander Zverev says he is feeling good ahead of Wimbledon despite losing in the Halle semi-final to personal nemesis Daniil Medvedev. The German world number three is the best men's tennis player yet to win a grand slam singles title. His form and history on grass would not suggest that statistic will change at the All England Club beginning on June 30, but the 28-year-old is quietly confident. Advertisement "I am satisfied with the level I played at," Zverev told reporters after Saturday's narrow 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-1), 4-6 loss to Russian Medvedev, who now holds a 13-7 head-to-head over the German. "In the decisive moments, he just played a little better," Zverev added. "It was a great match at a high level." He lost the final on grass in Stuttgart to Taylor Fritz before his efforts in Halle. "I can still improve things before Wimbledon, and I will," said Germany's number one. "But for the second week on grass, that was really OK." Zverev has never progressed beyond the fourth round at the grass grand slam. He will unwind in Kitzbühel this week before heading to London.
CNA
7 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Medvedev outlasts Zverev to set up Halle final against Bublik
Daniil Medvedev reached his first ATP Tour final for 15 months as he outlasted Germany's world number three Alexander Zverev 7-6(3) 6-7(1) 6-4 at the Halle Open on Saturday. The Russian former world number one could have spared himself some overtime had he not let three match points slip in the second set, but he eventually got the job done in just under three hours. "I am happy with my level, I played great," Medvedev said. "I would have loved to finish on the match points (in the second set). The first one I went for it and missed it. The second one I went a bit slower to wait for a mistake and he made a great point. I am happy to win in the end." Medvedev, who now has a 13-7 career record against Zverev, will play Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in Sunday's final where he will seek his 21st Tour-level title. He needed treatment for a nosebleed at 4-4 in an intense first set but was gifted the first-set tiebreaker as Zverev offered up a clutch of unforced errors. Zverev was broken at the start of the second set but clawed his way back and then saved three match points when serving at 5-6 before holding serve in an extended 12th game to set up a tiebreak in which he played some precise tennis. Medvedev quickly regrouped though and was the dominant player in the decider. Whatever the outcome of the final, he will return to the world's top 10 on Monday. A rejuvenated Bublik lost the first set against Karen Khachanov but hit back to win 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4 and stay on course for a second Halle title after winning it in 2023. After a career slump, Bublik has produced a superb run of form including reaching his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros and beating world number one Jannik Sinner in the second round in Halle.
Washington Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Medvedev defeats old rival Zverev to reach Halle Open final
HALLE, Germany — Daniil Medvedev ended home favorite Alexander Zverev's hopes of grass-court glory with a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (1), 6-4 win in their Halle Open semifinal on Saturday. Medvedev recovered from squandering three match points on Zverev's serve at 5-6 in the second set and took nearly 3 hours to get past his old rival and reach his first final in 15 months. It's Medvedev's fourth consecutive win over Zverev and it extended his lead to 13-7 in their head-to-head series. The Russian player will face Alexander Bublik — who beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the second round — or Karen Khachanov in Sunday's final. Medvedev hasn't played a final since March 2024, when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells. Zverev, who had been bidding to reach the Halle final for the third time, will to wait for his first title on grass. ___ AP tennis:
