Goodbye to iconic Wimbledon tradition after 147 years: British tennis tournament embraces the future from 2025

The fourth Grand Slam of the season is poised for a landmark shift in its storied history – Centre Court at Wimbledon will now feature a cutting-edge Hawk-Eye system powered by Sony, marking the end of an era for human line judges.

Why is Wimbledon using Hawk-Eye to replace humans?

Twelve Sony cameras will be installed around the court, tasked with tracking the trajectory of the ball and refining both match analysis and officiating. It’s the first time such a system will be used on Centre Court, and it comes amid growing concerns over a global shortage of tennis officials and rising tensions faced by referees on court.

Fumiatsu Hirai, head of Sony’s sports entertainment division, confirmed that the new system aims to address these issues while also maintaining audience engagement. “The shortage of referees in recent years, who often experience violent episodes when making their decisions on the court, and keeping the public’s attention” are among the motivations behind the innovation, he said.

The technology offers instant decisions on whether the ball is in or out, as well as tracking players’ foot placement during serves. Already a fixture at the Australian Open and the US Open, Hawk-Eye has not been introduced at Roland Garros, where the clay surface allows umpires to visually inspect ball marks.

With this move, Wimbledon ends a 147-year tradition by eliminating the role of linesmen on Centre Court – their calls will now be made by an artificial voice, signaling a striking blend of heritage and modernity at the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament.

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