Line judges are to be replaced by electronic line calling at the Wimbledon tennis championships, ending a nearly 150-year-old tradition.
The All England Club, which hosts the Wimbledon championships, on Wednesday announced the full introduction of Live Electronic Line Calling from the 2025 tournament.
Line judges decide whether balls are in or out.
Live Electronic Line Calling tracks balls with multiple cameras. It has only been used at Wimbledon when players questioned line calls.
The Wimbledon championships, which began in 1877, have the longest history of the four Grand Slams.
About 300 people work as line judges during the annual two-week tournament.
The chief executive of the All England Club, Sally Bolton, said in a statement, “Having reviewed the results of the testing undertaken at The Championships this year, 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.”
Bolton thanked the line umpires, saying they “have played a central role in our officiating set-up at The Championships for many decades and we recognize their valuable contribution and thank them for their commitment and service.”
Two other Grand Slams, the Australian Open and the US Open, are already using the technology.
The Association of Tennis Professionals, or ATP, has also announced tour-wide adoption of electronic line calling from 2025.