Picture Credit: Twitter
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has announced a tour-wide adoption of Electronic Line Calling Live (ELC Live) from the year 2025. It will be used in its all “out” calls throughout the matches, and there won’t be any more arguing with line judges over calls at tennis tournaments as the ELC Live will replace the line judges, who were trusted with where the shots have landed won’t be present on the courts. Though the matches will be overseen by a chair umpire.
The process of including technology in all the matches for line calls got its popularity at the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals, where ELC Live was tried for the first time at the men’s tour. The step to include technology has been included to optimise the accuracy, transparency, and consistency across the tournaments for players who will be competing in both main draw and qualifying marks.
The ATP Chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi said, “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.” He further added, “that said, we have a responsibility to embrace innovation and new technologies. Our sport deserves the most accurate form of officiating and we’re delighted to be able to deliver this across our whole Tour from 2025.”
Notably, line judges were used in fewer sites during the covid-19 pandemic, including the Australian Open and U.S. Open, and the tournaments that are not run by the ATP, and hence, don’t need to stick to the tour’s policies.
