LONDON — The prestigious Queen's Club Championships, a key grass-court warm-up event for Wimbledon, has undergone a significant change in recent years: the removal of line judges in favor of electronic line-calling technology. This shift has sparked curiosity among tennis fans, prompting BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything to explore the reasons behind this decision.
The Rise of Electronic Line-Calling in Tennis
The transition away from line judges at Queen's Club reflects a broader trend in professional tennis. The ATP Tour has increasingly embraced Hawk-Eye Live, a ball-tracking system that uses cameras and AI to make real-time line calls with near-perfect accuracy. This technology was first introduced as a challenge system in 2006 but has since evolved into a fully automated solution.
At Queen's, the shift became permanent in 2022 after successful trials. Tournament director Luiz Carvalho explained: "The feedback from players was overwhelmingly positive. Hawk-Eye Live eliminates human error and speeds up the game, which aligns with our goal of delivering the best possible experience."
Why Queen's Led the Change
Several factors made Queen's Club an ideal venue for this innovation:
- Grass-court specificity: Bounces on grass are harder to judge visually
- Tournament size: As a 500-level event, it's large enough to justify the investment
- Historical significance: Its prestige allowed it to set trends others would follow
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman, who serves on the ATP Tour's Player Council, noted: "Queen's has always been at the forefront of innovation. When we saw the accuracy rates exceeding 99.9%, it became hard to justify keeping human judges for anything but tradition's sake."
The Technology Behind the Change
Hawk-Eye Live uses 10 high-speed cameras positioned around the court, tracking the ball at 340 frames per second. The system:
- Calculates the ball's position within 3.6mm accuracy
- Makes calls in under 100 milliseconds
- Requires no player challenges - all calls are automatic
Player and Fan Reactions
The response has been largely positive. World No. 4 Taylor Fritz commented: "There's no more arguing calls or waiting for challenges. The game flows better, and we can focus purely on tennis." However, some traditionalists miss the human element. Longtime Queen's attendee Margaret Hargreaves told BBC Sport: "Part of the drama was seeing players interact with line judges. The tech is amazing, but it does change the atmosphere."
The Future of Line Judges in Tennis
With Queen's leading the way, other tournaments are following suit. The 2023 ATP season saw 12 events adopt full electronic line-calling, up from just 3 in 2021. Wimbledon remains a holdout, maintaining human judges for all courts except Centre and No. 1 Court where Hawk-Eye is used for challenges.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi predicts: "Within five years, line judges will be rare at tour-level events. The combination of accuracy, cost savings, and pace of play makes this inevitable." The system also reduces tournament costs by eliminating the need to transport and accommodate dozens of line judges.
Conclusion: A Necessary Evolution
The removal of line judges at Queen's represents tennis embracing technological progress. While some nostalgia remains for the human element, the benefits in accuracy and efficiency are undeniable. As Carvalho summarizes: "We're honoring tennis traditions by ensuring the best possible competition. Sometimes that means letting go of how things were done to embrace how they should be done."
With player support and fan acceptance growing, Queen's Club's decision may soon become the standard rather than the exception across professional tennis. The tournament's willingness to innovate continues its legacy as a pioneer in the sport.