This week, the All England Lawn Tennis Club announced some noteable changes for the next edition of the Championships in 2025.
Live Electronic Line Calling to be introduced
This technology will be in place on all Championships and Qualifying courts, and will replace the line judges. The technology has been used at many tournaments already, and will be in use at every ATP event from 2025. Grand Slams are free to decide if they want to implement it or not, and so far, the Australian Open and US Open have also announced they will be using it from next year.
How will it work?
In previous years, line judges would watch the lines and call ‘out’ or ‘fault’ if the ball landed outside the line. The umpire could also make calls or overrule if they thought necessary. Players would have 3 ‘challenges’ per set and could review a call, with Hawkeye technology confirming if the ball was in or out. The player would lose a challenge if they were incorrect.
From next year, if a ball lands outside the court, the Electronic Line Calling technology will call the ball ‘out’ with a sound, just like a line judge would. Players will be unable to ‘challenge’ calls, but can ask to see it again on the screen. This means that line judges won’t be at the Championships, but there will still be an umpire.
Will this be beneficial?
Using technology instead of a human eye should mean more accurate line calls, and also less time spent reviewing calls and replaying points if necessary. Whilst the challenge system in place before used accurate technology, sometimes incorrect calls were still missed. Whilst the sight of the line judges in their uniforms will be missed by some, The Championships is moving with the times by embracing this technology, and it comes after extensive testing during this year’s tournament. Some spectators may also prefer that there are fewer people on the court, making it easier to focus on the players.
Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles Final pushed back two hours
In past tournaments, both of the Singles Finals started at 2pm UK time on the second Saturday and Sunday. From 2025, the finals will start at 4pm UK time. The Doubles Finals will start before the Singles Finals also, which has not been the case previously. The Semi Finals will still begin at 1:30pm UK time on the second Thursday and Friday.
A later start makes for more prime-time viewing for European audiences, and North and South American fans will be glad to see the Final starting later in their morning. However, it makes it more difficult for those in East Asia and Australasia, as it means the Finals will play out later into the night and early hours of the morning.
Updated Provisional Schedule for Wimbledon 2025 – Final Weekend
The final weekend schedule for The Championships has been adjusted to better structure the order of play on Centre Court:
- On the second Saturday, play will begin with the gentlemen’s doubles final at 1:00pm, followed by the ladies’ singles final at 4:00pm.
- On the second Sunday, the ladies’ doubles final will start at 1:00pm, followed by the gentlemen’s singles final at 4:00pm.
The singles semi-final schedule remains unchanged, and the mixed doubles final is still provisionally set as the third match on Centre Court on the second Thursday.
The Championships 2025 – Centre Court Provisional Schedule
Day 11 – Thursday
- 1:30pm: Two Ladies’ Singles Semi-Finals
- Mixed Doubles Final (as the third match of the day)
Day 12 – Friday
- 1:30pm: Two Gentlemen’s Singles Semi-Finals
Day 13 – Saturday
- 1:00pm: Gentlemen’s Doubles Final
- 4:00pm: Ladies’ Singles Final
Day 14 – Sunday
- 1:00pm: Ladies’ Doubles Final
- 4:00pm: Gentlemen’s Singles Final
What time do the Wimbledon Grounds open?
The Wimbledon Grounds open daily at 10am and close 45 minutes after the end of the last match. In practice, matches can go on late into the evening - right up to a 11pm deadline.
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