Technology chiefs at the famous tennis grass-court tournament Wimbledon say the position of line judges is still safe, even though artificial intelligence (AI) is creeping closer.
The All England Club and international technology giant IBM announced new AI features for the championship – which starts early next month – on Wednesday.
There is even a “draw analysis” that uses AI to predict what the path to the final might look like for each player in the singles draws.
Bill Jinks, technology director at the All England Club, says Wimbledon has had to work hard to stay at the forefront of technology.
“Wimbledon is the oldest Grand Slam tournament and we have a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1877; it’s one of the main reasons why people keep coming,” says Jinks.
Wimbledon has a unique place on the tennis calendar worldwide, with players and fans attracted by the age-old traditions of the All England Club.
“The heritage and traditions are a big part of the experience for players and supporters, but we can’t do it without technological innovation.”
Neatly dressed referees and linesmen also form a large part of this experience, but how long will they keep up in the light of ever-growing technology?
The ATP men’s tournament announced in April the adoption of electronic line decisions for all tennis tournaments from 2025; a role that is traditionally fulfilled by linesmen on the court.
According to Jinks, this is a step to “optimise accuracy and consistency at tournaments”.
Jinks says linesmen will still be part of the Grand Slam in London this year, but he could not give a long-term guarantee about their future.
“Line decision technology has changed. We have been using the challenge system – where players can challenge a limited number of decisions using video technology – since 2007 and it works for us.
“But who can say what will happen in the future?”
