By 2025, the ATP men’s tennis tour will see a significant shift in how line calls are made, as traditional line judges will be replaced by Electronic Line Calling Live (ELC Live) technology. This change means that disputes over line calls will become a thing of the past, as the technology will handle all “out” calls during matches. While a chair umpire will still oversee each match, the familiar presence of line judges on the court will be absent.
This transition marks a pivotal moment in tennis, building on the momentum gained since ELC Live was first introduced at the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals. As of now, the WTA women’s tour has not announced similar plans for adopting electronic line calling, although a spokesperson indicated that the organization is actively reviewing and showing interest in the technology.
The move towards electronic line calling accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020. During this time, line judges were used less frequently at various tournaments, including the Australian Open and U.S. Open. These Grand Slam events, not governed by ATP policies, have already experimented with electronic systems, primarily on hard and grass courts. However, the ATP’s new policy will extend to all surfaces, including clay courts.
Despite the technological advancements, some traditionalists in the sport, such as those at the French Open, have been hesitant to abandon human line judges. This is largely because clay courts allow for visible ball marks, which can help determine the accuracy of a call. ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged the historical significance of line judges, stating, “This is a landmark moment for our sport, and not one we’ve reached without careful consideration. Tradition is core to tennis, and line judges have played an important part in the game over the years.”
Gaudenzi further emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, saying, “That said, we have a responsibility to embrace innovation and new technologies. Our sport deserves the most accurate form of officiating.” This commitment to precision and fairness is driving the ATP’s decision to fully integrate ELC Live across all its events by 2025.