Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the four Grand Slams while launching a timing shakeup in an attempt to halt a haemorrhage of worldwide TV eyeballs for men’s and women’s finals.
Bosses at the starchy All England Club said that electronic linecalling will be the way of the future at next summer’s event, marking the end of a century or more of tradition.
In addition, the event hit the panic button over the fact that television viewing figures from last July were a disappointment and that starting the men’s and women’s final two hours later at 1600 local time may just be the answer.
The shock to the scheduling system comes in the wake of a controversial ATP shakeup of the Masters 1000 programmes, with traditional one-week events now stretch to nearly a fortnight, a move which has not gone down well with players,
According to club complaints, viewing figures for the last two – admittedly low-key – women’s finals were a disaster.
Last summer’s title by Barbora Krejcikova over Italian Jasmine Paoline rated 400,000 viewers less than the equally modest numbers for the 2023 final won by Marketa Vondrousova over Ons jabeur.
Evidently, the near-certainty of the best-of-five men’s final stretching well into the evening and forcing a delay while the Centre Court roof is closed is not a bother for club execs.
Closing the roof completely changes conditions, turning the outdoor match into an indoor one, a move which is likely to enrage finalists.
Wimbledon has already bumped one tradition, the inactive middle Sunday, playing through the former pause day during last summer’s edition.
Club CEO Sally Bolton spun the controversial change as a win-win said: “We have adjusted the provisional schedule for the final weekend of The Championships with the ambition of improving the experience for all involved.
“The doubles players competing in the finals (1300 start before the finals) will have increased certainty over their schedule and fans will enjoy each day’s play as it builds towards the crescendo of the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles finals, with our champions being crowned in front of the largest possible worldwide audience.”
