Cameras have replaced the line judges who had been part of Wimbledon since 1877 Some players have said the calls are too quiet. Others say they miss the tradition. The absence of line judges at Wimbledon on day one of the Grand Slam has certainly been noticeable. For the first time electronic line calling has been introduced at the All England Club with thewell-dressed line judges replaced by AI. In the absence of the 300 line judges that have been used for the past 148 years, up to 18 cameras, developed by HawkEye, are situated around each court to track the progress of the ball and determine whether it is in or out. The technology is already in operation at the US and Australian Opens but its introduction at SW19 has been a topic of discussion. The emptiness of the courts is noticeable on Centre Court and Court One, where the vast space behind the baseline is now occupied only by the ball kids. Britain's Cameron Norriesaid it "looks cool" with the line umpires in place and contributes to the "tradition" of the tournament. "Obviously there's a lot of jobs and people that love tennis, which will definitely be missed from them," he said. But while many players agree line judges are part of the spectacle, few can argue with the accuracy of the calls. "As a player it's pretty black or white with the calls," added Norrie. "In, out... there's no mistake, nothing happening. Definitely you've got to feel for those linesmen and those people. That's a bit tough for them, but it's pretty black or white with the calling." The theatre of players challenging the calls has also been a notable absence with fans unable to get involved with the drama of a close call being replayed on the big screen. American 12th seed Frances Tiafoe said he would have liked to see Wimbledon keep line judges. "I actually like [it] with them [line judges] on the court, because I think for fanfare it's better," he said. "If I were to hit a serve on a big point, you go up with the challenge, is it in, is it out? The crowd is, like, 'ohhh'. There's none of that. "If I hit a good serve now and they call it out, you may still think it's in, but it doesn't matter. I think that kind of kills it." The absence of line judges on court was noticeable on day one of the Championships The voices broadcast by the technology at the All England Club are those of its behind-the-scenes staff and tour guides but they have at times seemed quiet. More lively atmospheres mean the crowd can sometimes drown out the call, leaving players confused and uncertain. "The voice, I cannot really hear it, it is a bit too low," said China's Yuan Yue, who played her first-round match against Germany's Eva Lys on court eight, an outside court where the hustle and bustle of fans moving around the grounds is constant background noise. "I asked the referee can you [turn] it up a little bit. He said he cannot. He said he will try to let us know [the call] because he has a machine that can look it up. "I don't really mind, I just want to hear it clearly. [The umpire's] voice is a lot more loud than the automatic one so we can hear that clearly." Norrie also suggested the calls were a bit quiet at the beginning of his match on court 18 but that there were no "bad calls" and "you get on with it" when a call goes against you. There were also protests outside the grounds with some fans holding up signs to air their grievances that technology is taking jobs away from people. But, as tradition makes way for technology, cameras will now become as much of a fixture on the courts as the pinstriped shirts and smart trousers.
'I can't hear it' - Wimbledon's first day of electronic calling
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"Wimbledon Introduces Electronic Line Calling, Replacing Traditional Line Judges"
TruthLens AI Summary
The first day of Wimbledon 2023 marked a significant shift in the tournament's long-standing traditions as electronic line calling was introduced, replacing the line judges who had been part of the event since its inception in 1877. This change saw the installation of up to 18 cameras developed by HawkEye around each court to accurately track the ball's trajectory and determine in or out calls, a technology already utilized in the US and Australian Opens. The absence of the 300 line judges who typically occupy the courts was palpable, with players noting the stark emptiness of the space behind the baseline, which was now solely occupied by ball kids. While some players, such as Britain's Cameron Norrie, acknowledged the technological advancements and the accuracy of the calls, they also expressed nostalgia for the presence of line judges, emphasizing their contribution to the tournament's atmosphere and tradition. Norrie remarked on the straightforward nature of electronic calls, stating that they leave no room for doubt, yet he recognized the emotional impact the absence of line judges has on both players and fans alike.
Players expressed mixed feelings about the new system, with some finding the electronic calls too quiet and difficult to hear amidst the lively crowd atmosphere. China's Yuan Yue, who played her first-round match on an outside court, highlighted the challenge of hearing the automated calls over the background noise, prompting her to request louder announcements from the referee. Frances Tiafoe, the 12th seed from the United States, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the absence of line judges diminished the fanfare and drama associated with challenging close calls. He lamented the loss of excitement that comes from crowd reactions during pivotal moments. Additionally, protests outside the Wimbledon grounds reflected a broader concern among fans about technology replacing human jobs. As Wimbledon embraces this technological transformation, the future of the tournament will see cameras becoming an integral part of the experience, alongside the traditional elegance associated with the event.
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