## Wimbledon's AI Line-Calling Debut Marred by Controversy and Player Skepticism **Report Provider:** The Guardian **Author:** Tumaini Carayol **Published:** July 8, 2025 (covering the first eight days of the tournament) **Topic:** Technology, AI, Sports ### Executive Summary Wimbledon's highly anticipated introduction of electronic line-calling (ELC), powered by artificial intelligence, has been met with significant criticism and a "firestorm" of controversy during its first week. While ELC has been adopted by professional tennis since 2018 and is now used across the men's ATP tour, Wimbledon's implementation has been plagued by player complaints of incorrect calls and a notable technical malfunction. This has led to a decline in player and coach faith in the technology's accuracy on the grass court surface, despite the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) maintaining its overall accuracy and implementing new protocols to address issues. ### Key Findings and Conclusions * **Widespread Criticism:** The move to ELC, replacing approximately 300 human line judges, has been met with significant backlash. Players have expressed disappointment with perceived incorrect calls, contributing to a loss of faith in the system. * **Player Concerns:** British No. 1 players Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu were among those who criticized the ELC system after their defeats, believing they were subjected to incorrect calls. Raducanu stated, "the calls can be so wrong." * **Technical Malfunction:** A significant incident occurred on Centre Court where ELC cameras on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's side of the court were not functional during her match against Sonay Kartal. This led to an incorrect "in" call on a ball that was clearly out, prompting the umpire to replay a point. * **Human Error Cited:** The AELTC attributed the Centre Court malfunction to an operator accidentally deactivating the ELC system on Pavlyuchenkova's side. * **Diminished Faith on Grass:** While ELC has generally been accepted on hard courts due to its accuracy, the first week at Wimbledon has seen a notable decline in player and coach confidence in its implementation on grass. * **French Open Exception:** Wimbledon is now the only Grand Slam that still employs human line judges, with all other men's clay-court events utilizing ELC. ### Key Statistics and Metrics * **Hawk-Eye Accuracy:** The ELC system used by Wimbledon, Hawk-Eye, claims a margin of error of **2.2mm**. * **Camera System:** Hawk-Eye utilizes **10 cameras** placed around the court to track ball bounces. * **Previous Wimbledon Practice:** Wimbledon previously used ELC only as a "safety net" for players to challenge calls made by human line judges. ### Notable Risks and Concerns * **Player Trust Erosion:** The ongoing issues and perceived inaccuracies risk eroding player trust in the technology, potentially impacting the integrity and perception of the sport. * **Technological Reliance and Contingencies:** The incident highlights the importance of robust contingency plans when technology fails, including the potential for umpires to use video replay. * **"Sterile Landscape" and Human Touch:** Some criticism anticipates a "more sterile landscape on court and the lack of human touch" due to the absence of human line judges. ### Trends and Changes * **Shift in Professional Tennis:** ELC has become increasingly prevalent in professional tennis, starting with the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2018 and now used at all ATP events. * **Grand Slam Adoption:** The Australian Open was the first Grand Slam to adopt ELC four years ago. Wimbledon's move marks a significant step towards full automation, with only the French Open now relying on human line judges. ### Recommendations (Implied) * **Strengthen Protocols:** The AELTC has stated that protocols have been changed to prevent similar technical malfunctions. * **Ensure Robust Contingency Plans:** The need for backup systems and umpire capabilities for video replay when technology fails is evident. * **Address Player Concerns:** Continued dialogue and transparency with players and coaches regarding the technology's performance are crucial to rebuilding faith. ### Contextual Information * **AI Enhancement:** The ELC system at Wimbledon is enhanced by artificial intelligence. * **Previous Enthusiasm:** Wimbledon organizers anticipated criticism but may not have been prepared for the intensity of the backlash. Debbie Jevans, chair of the AELTC, noted that there was previously a demand for ELC due to its accuracy compared to human judges. The article suggests that as the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen whether Wimbledon can restore player and coach faith in its AI-powered line-calling system.
Player faith in technology shaken by storm around AI line-calling at Wimbledon
Read original at The Guardian →When the Wimbledon organisers announced last year that electronic line-calling would replace line judges for the first time at the Championships this year, plenty of criticism could have been anticipated. Some people would take issue with the more sterile landscape on court and the lack of human touch, while the cull of around 300 linesmen and women would also surely be a sore point.
It is difficult, however, to imagine they were prepared for the firestorm that has followed its long-awaited implementation at this tournament.Electronic line-calling, or ELC, which uses automated ball-tracking technology has, after all, long been used in professional tennis tournaments, starting with the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2018.
It has been four years since the Australian Open became the first grand slam to utilise the technology and this year, for the first time, the men’s tour, the ATP, is using ELC at all of its events. Although all other men’s clay-court events use ELC, the French Open is now the only grand slam that still employs human line judges.
Instead of this year offering Wimbledon to step into the future, however, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has spent the first eight days of the tournament defending its implementation of the technology, which is enhanced by artificial intelligence.For the first five days of the tournament the most significant blows were the parting shots from Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, the men’s and women’s British No 1 players, who each criticised the ELC system following their defeats.
Both players believed they had been subjected to incorrect calls. “It’s kind of disappointing, the tournament here, that the calls can be so wrong, but for the most part they’ve been OK. It’s just, like, I’ve had a few in my other matches, too, that have been very wrong,” Raducanu said.Jack Draper complains to the umpire after an electronic line call during his loss to Marin Cilic.
Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianThe AELTC maintained that the system was working optimally and that ELC remains considerably more accurate than the line judges it replaced. Wimbledon employs Hawk-Eye, one of numerous ELC providerswhich uses a system that incorporates 10 cameras placed around the court, and which track the bounce of the ball.
Hawk-Eye states that its margin of error is 2.2mm. Wimbledon had previously used ELC only as a safety net, allowing players to challenge calls conducted by line judges.“It’s funny, because when we did have linesmen, we were constantly asked why we didn’t have electronic line-calling because it’s more accurate,” Debbie Jevans, the chair of the AELTC, told the BBC.
Then came a disastrous series of events on Centre Court. As Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova held game point on her serve at 4-4 in the first set against Sonay Kartal on Sunday, a backhand from Kartal clearly flew long but it was not called out. After a lengthy delay, it emerged that some of the ELC cameras had not been functional on Pavlyuchenkova’s side of the court for some time during the game.
The umpire Nico Helwerth opted to replay the point. Around 10 minutes later, after losing that service game, Pavyluchenkova faced a set point on Kartal’s serve.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionEmma Raducanu has not been impressed by ELC at Wimbledon. Photograph: Dave Shopland/ShutterstockIn the end, the AELTC was fortunate with the outcome.
Pavlyuchenkova, who told Helwerth the tournament had “stolen” the game from her, recovered to win both the set and the match, limiting the significance of the error. The AELTC announced in a statement on Sunday night that the ELC had been accidentally deactivated on Pavlyuchenkova’s side of the court by one of the operators running the system.
Bright on Monday morning, the Wimbledon chief executive, Sally Bolton, fielded a contentious scheduled meeting with the media, which was almost entirely centred around ELC. Bolton asserted repeatedly that the mistake was purely down to human error, that the protocols had been changed to prevent a similar issue and that ELC has otherwise been working accurately during the tournament.
At the very least, the situation with Pavlyuchenkova also underlined the importance of having contingency plans for when technology fails, including the possibility of umpires using video replay.Since the implementation of ELC, player reaction has largely been positive as it was rolled out on hard courts, with players recognising the greater accuracy provided by the system compared to human errors.
However, after numerous dramatic moments during the clay-court season, as some players were frustrated with the differences between the ball marks and the ELC’s judgments, the first week of ELC at Wimbledon has been a difficult one. It is clear that faith in its implementation on the surface has diminished and both privately and publicly, players and coaches have expressed scepticism about its accuracy.
As the tournament moves into the latter stages, it remains to be seen if that faith will be restored.
