LONDON — The legendary John McEnroe, famous for his iconic “You cannot be serious!” outbursts, has embraced Wimbledon’s latest leap into modernity, opting for technology over human judgment to determine ball calls.
As Monday marked the beginning of the oldest Grand Slam tournament, the All England Club implemented a system devoid of line judges. Instead, electronic technology now oversees rulings, announcing when a shot strays out of bounds with recorded voices.
“In some respects, both players and fans may miss that direct interaction. However, if it’s precise, I think it’s fantastic,” stated McEnroe, who secured Wimbledon titles three times during his Hall of Fame career and serves as a TV analyst for ESPN and the BBC at this event.
“I suppose my hair wouldn’t be as gray as it is now,” McEnroe quipped at 66.
Wimbledon joins the club of elite tennis tournaments with electronic line calls
This innovative system aligns Wimbledon with nearly all premier tennis tournaments across various surfaces, although the French Open remains an outlier, still relying on line judges. The debut of the system on Monday appeared largely smooth from the players’ perspectives.
Notably, Frances Tiafoe, the 12th-seeded American, was entirely unaware that line judges were absent during his victorious first-round match.
What he did find amusing was the chair umpire’s distraction at one moment when he picked up his phone to request additional towels amid the hottest Day 1 in tournament history.
“It takes him completely out of play,” Tiafoe said, referring to the on-court official, “apart from calling the score and noting time violations.”
Players appreciate the clarity provided by Wimbledon’s new approach to line calls
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka appreciated how the All England Club’s embrace of electronic line-calling removed uncertainty about challenging decisions. Until last year, players could request video replays to verify rulings.
“With line umpires, there’s always a thought: ‘Should I challenge or not?’” she remarked. “It creates unnecessary doubt.”
Cam Norrie expressed relief that the absence of line judges means no reason for frustration over perceived wrong calls, a plight McEnroe and others have endured over the years.
“Honestly, it’s refreshing. You can move on without getting irked at anyone for a missed call or other disruptions,” said Norrie, a British player who triumphed on Monday. “It’s straightforward with calls: in or out, and the announcements are clear. No room for error.”
However, he did note some cons.
He found the absence of officials around the court to be visually striking and highlighted concerns over the job loss for some of the 275 line judges previously employed (80 were retained as “match assistants” to support chair umpires behind the scenes).
“The decision reflects Wimbledon’s historical balance of tradition and innovation, and how we navigate that duality. We are very mindful of it… It was time for this shift,” said All England Club CEO Sally Bolton. “This isn’t merely a cost-cutting measure; it’s about advancing the tournament and ensuring the most efficient line-calling possible.”
At Wimbledon, ‘You cannot argue with the machine’
French player Adrian Mannarino appreciated having what he referred to as “a machine” involved in the matches, asserting, “You cannot argue with the machine.”
“When a person is judging the ball and potentially can’t see well or is losing concentration, it’s quite bothersome,” Mannarino said. “But when it’s a robot calling the shots, there’s nothing to dispute.”
He did add that it wasn’t always easy to discern which recorded announcements corresponded to his match on Court 5, given the proximity to other courts.
“Sometimes, I mistook an ‘Out!’ call from a neighboring match as being directed at mine,” Mannarino revealed. “It can be a bit confusing, but overall, I think it’s a positive development.”
