The Azerbaijan State News Agency

SPORTS

Wimbledon line judges to be replaced with Hawk-Eye technology

Wimbledon line judges to be replaced with Hawk-Eye technology

Baku, October 10, AZERTAC

Wimbledon, the world’s oldest tennis tournament, is doing away with line judges in favour of automated technology at next year’s championships in a momentous break from tradition, according to the Financial Times.

Live electronic line-calling technology will replace humans for the first time since 1877, underlining the advance of technology in sport.

The change would be made across all of the courts used during qualifying matches and at Wimbledon itself, the All England Club said on Wednesday.

Dressed in distinctive uniforms, which since 2006 have been designed by Polo Ralph Lauren, roughly 300 line judges have played a critical role every year in watching for faults and outs. But their departure marks another win for technology in making the high-stakes calls that determine winners and losers.

Although chair umpires will remain in post, the All England Club’s decision ends another tradition that has a major place in Wimbledon history.

In 1929, linesmen started to raise an arm when making a call. Twenty years later, lineswomen joined them on Centre Court for the first time. In 1981, John McEnroe, who won the men’s singles title three times, infamously yelled, “You cannot be serious!” as he argued over a line call.

Technology had already started to make inroads at Wimbledon, including the introduction of the first electronic service line monitor in 1980. From 2007, the Hawk-Eye electronic line-calling system was in full operation on the top two courts and continued to roll out in the following years.

The coronavirus pandemic accelerated the adoption of technology in the sport, as championship organisers sought to minimise human interaction.

All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton said on Wednesday that the decision to dispense with line judges followed a series of tests at this year’s championships.

“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,” she said. “For the players, it will offer them the same conditions they have played under at a number of other events on tour.”

The Australian Open became the first grand slam to ditch line judges altogether in favour of electronic systems in 2021. The US Open followed suit the next year. The ATP Tour, the men’s governing body, plans to move to an electronic system from 2025.

“We take our responsibility to balance tradition and innovation at Wimbledon very seriously,” Bolton added.

“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.”

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

ICESCO Director General Salim Al Malik: I am highly confident in Azerbaijan's ability to host this major event

Azerbaijan, Iraq explore prospects for bilateral cooperation

Vatican official visits Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Spain set to declare regions worst hit by floods “seriously affected”

Azerbaijan, Slovakia explore military cooperation

Exhibition in Baku to highlight life and achievements of outstanding Polish women

COP29 Public Catering Sustainability Assessment complete

ASCO announces phased measures for decarbonisation

Death toll in India's Uttarakhand bus accident rises to 36

UEFA moves Besiktas-Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa tie to neutral venue

AFFA official appointed UEFA delegate for Conference League phase match

Azerbaijan, China discuss COP29 preparations

AZIREX-2024 joint tactical exercise held

French families sue TikTok over harmful content linked to suicides

Primary school named after Mahammad Fuzuli opens in Iraq’s Kirkuk city

Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez beats American Ann Li to win WTA Merida Open Akron

Bilateral talks at 2024 Global Education Meeting focused on COP29

Baku to host Global Think Tanks Forum

® Mastercard and ABB launch Sustainability Hackathon

Speaker Shalva Papuashvili: Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 is a historic milestone

MEP Elena Yoncheva remains committed to working for release of two Bulgarian sailors in Yemen

DND News Agency: Pakistan conducted a successful test-fire of ballistic missile by a Navy ship

Participants of Baku Summit of World Religious Leaders visit Alley of Honors

ANAMA: 7.421 unexploded ordnances neutralized over past week

Former Director General for Environment in Government of Montenegro: Azerbaijan’s clean energy transition could serve as a model for other fossil-fuel-dependent countries – INTERVIEW

US Foreign Policy Association: Swiss Peace Forum on Karabakh must be two-sided

Iranian Foreign Minister to kick off two-day official visit to Pakistan

President Ilham Aliyev inspected facilities created for COP29 at Baku Olympic Stadium area VIDEO

Azerbaijan to join China International Import Expo

COP29 in spotlight of prominent international organizations

Junior Azerbaijani badminton player claims bronze in Indonesia

'Unprecedented' smog level forces primary schools closure in Pakistan's Lahore

® Azercell joins COP29 as event’s official telecom partner

8 OPEC+ members extend voluntary oil output cuts by one month

Fenerbahce beat Trabzonspor 3-2 to reduce point difference with Super Lig leaders Galatasaray to 5

Global oil prices climb

Manchester United draw 1-1 with Chelsea at home in Premier League

China's Shenzhou 18 astronauts return to Earth after 6 months in space

Azerbaijani boxer wins world silver in Budva

Indonesia volcano eruption kills 10, sets villages aflame

COP29 in Baku: Globally recognized climate advocate and leading climate finance authority, calls for historic action on climate finance and new ambitious funding goal: “COP29 has the opportunity to make history!”

Enhanced digital platform unveiled for COP29

Barcelona beat Espanyol in derby to extend lead in LaLiga

AZIREX-2024 joint tactical exercise to be held in Caspian Sea

UEFA fines Georgian Football Federation for disciplinary violations

Pawel Herczynski: High-level EU delegation to participate in COP29

Presidential runoff election kicks off in Moldova

Official conduct further COP29 traffic management monitoring

Azerbaijan's Victory Day celebrated with solemn event in Paris

Fluminense defender Marcelo leaves by mutual agreement

S. Korea, US, Japan stage joint air drills with B-1B bomber after NK ICBM launch

Liverpool take over Premier League lead from Manchester City

Baku to host Sustainable Innovation Forum as part of COP29

Kazakhstan introduces Neo Nomad visa for foreign tourists

Baku State University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University explore prospects for cooperation

Chisinau Mayor informed about Azerbaijan’s preparations for COP29

Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable partner reinforces its image as energy supplier for both neighbouring and European countries, says Turkish expert – INTERVIEW

Kemi Badenoch becomes new Conservative Party leader in UK

COP29: Traffic management monitoring underway

London hosts Azerbaijan-Türkiye fraternal evening

International Ice Hockey Federation prepares Olympic 3x3 proposal

Davis scores 38 to lead Lakers past Raptors

Baku to host 2nd High Level Ministerial Dialogue for Culture-based Climate Action during COP29

® Birbank Umico cardholders can earn more Umico bonuses in November with choice of three categories in Birbank app

Akkan Suver: Azerbaijan demonstrates great respect for humanity by hosting COP29

Turkish Haber7 TV channel: Azerbaijan’s reconciliation initiative during COP29 gains global support

Azerbaijani oil price approaches $75 per barrel

Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 reflects President Ilham Aliyev's achievements

November 2 marks International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

Oil prices rise in global markets

Briefing held on COP29 transport management plan

Italian sculptor Lorenzo Quinn’s “Equilibrium in Nature" exhibition opened at Heydar Aliyev Center

Bishkek to host 11th Summit of Organization of Turkic States

8 killed in railway station awning collapse in Serbia

® Azercell supports four projects empowering women’s societal role

3 dead as Typhoon Kong-rey hits Taiwan

Umud Shokri: Azerbaijan has significant potential to become a major exporter of renewable electricity - INTERVIEW

Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency, Commission of Milli Majlis against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats issue joint statement

Two dead, 6 injured in shooting at downtown Orlando amid Halloween celebration

French swimmer Marchand wins gold medal with Olympic record

Turkish President Erdogan receives Iraqi Premier Al Sudani for talks in Istanbul

US Foreign Policy Association: Azerbaijan responds to recent Dutch resolutions

Indonesia bans sales of Google phones days after blocking Apple's iPhone 16

Azerbaijani citizen living in London awarded prestigious “Freedom of the City of London”

Leyla Aliyeva joins tree-planting campaign in Sabunchu district of Baku

Azerbaijan’s Economic Council convenes meeting

Azerbaijan’s Victory Day marked in Cuba

Press release on the outcomes of the tenth meeting of the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, and the Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border and Border Security Issues between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has positioned itself as a highly responsible country on a global scale, says MP

S. Korea, U.S. stage joint drone strike drills for 1st time

COP29 Call Centre now operational

SOCAR bond holders’ income exceeds $13 million

SOFAZ delegation pays working visit to Saudi Arabia

Azerbaijan’s Youth and Sports Ministry to arrange 14 events as part of COP29

Manchester United appoint Ruben Amorim as new head coach following Erik ten Hag sacking

New AMADA project: Celebrating the essence of clean sports through photography

Leaders of women’s organizations of Black Sea and South Caucasus region make peace appeal to international community

251M children and youth still out of school, despite decades of progress, UNESCO reports

Pope sends message to those affected by floods in Spain

Iran summons German charge d'affaires