This year’s Wimbledon feels different, and it’s not just the unpredictable weather or the rising stars on the court. For the first time in its long history, every line call at the tournament will be made not by sharp-eyed officials in the corners, but by artificial intelligence. Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations has introduced a system powered by twelve high-speed cameras that follow the ball, track player movement, and deliver instant decisions with pinpoint accuracy.
For fans, the change may seem subtle at first. There are still roaring crowds, brilliant rallies, and nail-biting tiebreaks. But something has clearly shifted. There are no line judges poised at the edges, no raised arms signaling “out.” Instead, a calm voice delivers the call, based on calculations happening faster than the eye can see. The ball is tracked from the moment it leaves the racket until its final bounce. The result is clean, precise, and immediate.
The goal is not just speed. Accuracy has always mattered in tennis, especially when a single bad call can change the course of a match. This new system doesn’t guess. It sees everything. For players, that offers peace of mind. They no longer have to waste energy challenging calls or wondering if a point was lost to human error. Every rally starts and ends with the same standard of fairness, whether it’s on Centre Court or Court 18.
While some will miss the traditions of old—the whistle of a line judge or the drama of a contested call—many welcome this new chapter. The technology is doing what it was designed to do: support the sport without stealing the spotlight. And beyond Wimbledon, this move hints at a future where even local tournaments might benefit from similar tools, as AI systems become more accessible and affordable.
This summer’s tournament will be remembered not just for the champions it crowns, but for the quiet revolution happening at its edges. Tennis is still tennis. But with a little help from AI, it just got a little fairer, a little smoother, and a lot more ready for the future.