What a bold statement for the championship that’s been going for 148 years! They’ve done so by removing human line judges from their global championship. Other examples include the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which recently implemented an electronic calling system. Many players and former officials have recently claimed that this rule change removes the human element of the sport. This amendment respects the NBA’s time-honored custom of keeping all line judges on the courts. Curmudgeons notwithstanding, some vainly take precedent in claiming these judges model the pizzazz and outlandishness indispensable to matches.
Pauline Eyre, an ex line judge, made her Wimbledon debut as a 21 year old. Here, she looks back on her experiences and how incredible the relationship is that line judges have with the game. She recalls stepping onto the courts for the first time, feeling a “great feeling of pride” as part of the officiating team. Eyre confesses she never intended to take the leap into pro tennis. She thinks of herself as “a really terrible junior player, the kind of one that would lose first round every tournament.”
Since 2007, Wimbledon has used Hawk-Eye technology to help with officiating. This breakthrough technology gives players the freedom to challenge a human line judge’s call. It introduces a fun new level of scrutiny to the games. Eyre agrees that even as this technology has improved the accuracy of these calls, it can still be insufficient at times. She points out that “electronic calls aren’t always loud enough,” making it challenging for players and spectators alike to hear crucial decisions during tense moments in matches.
It has been controversial among players, even with electronic officiating. At the roundtable, China’s Yuan Yue raised the concern that in-game automated messages are sometimes too soft to hear during game play. Defending women’s champion Barbora Krejčíková has already spoken out in favor of the old school style of officiating. She appreciates the thrill and “fanfare” of calling out overzealous line judges.
Andrew Jarrett was a tournament referee at Wimbledon from 2006 to 2019. As for getting rid of line umpires, he said that one was “not on the agenda” during his time. He called line judges “the part of the furniture of the court.” With their eye-catching uniforms, they are instantly recognizable and memorable, further distinguishing themselves from officials in other sports. For Eyre, it’s about what these line judges, who often officiate as a labor of love, put into their work.
Eyre believes that many line judges invest their time and energy into the role because “we just wanted to be part of something we loved.” She’s right to ask those questions—the future of line judging may depend on it. Without the promise of Wimbledon, it’s hard to entice a younger generation to ensure that they continue chasing career officiating posts. “Why would a 15-year-old who’s a club tennis player or a county tennis player want to go into line judging when there’s nothing really in it for them?” she asks.
Even Wimbledon is taking steps to eliminate human officiating. Eyre cautions that this move would affect how players learn to face adversity on the court. She states, “It takes away that bit for the players where they need to deal with adversity.” Her worries are a manifestation of the larger sentiment shared by most players and fans alike. Judgment call They feel that human judgment adds vital unpredictability and glitz to contests.
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