In a landmark decision for the 2025 Wimbledon tournament, line judges were replaced with the Hawk-Eye Live system, incorporating elements of artificial intelligence. However, despite claims of improved accuracy, this change has faced backlash from players and fans alike, as reported by TechRadar.
British tennis players Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu voiced their concerns regarding the system's decision-making accuracy after experiencing contentious moments in their matches. During her game, Yue Yuan even approached the umpire to request louder announcements, which were deemed insufficiently clear for the athletes.
In the match between Sonay Kartal and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the system malfunctioned for an entire game due to an operator error. The All England Club later apologized, acknowledging the server-side glitch.
The replacement of human referees with algorithms also had social repercussions—over 300 judges lost their jobs this year, with some protesting outside the club with signs.
Despite this technological leap, not all tournaments are following suit; for instance, Roland-Garros still employs human referees. Critics argue that the inability to challenge AI decisions undermines the balance between accuracy and fairness.
Organizers maintain that automated officiating is a step towards objectivity, yet whether players and spectators are willing to forgo the human touch that has defined the tournament for years remains an open question.
