“Dear Editor – It is genuinely disheartening to learn that the upcoming year will see the phasing out of line judges at Wimbledon’s All England Club. This decision to integrate electronic line-calling systems has been made, mirroring certain adjustments seen in venues for tennis worldwide (“End of an Era? Wimbledon Opts for Technological Line-Calls, Dismissing Judges after a 147-Year Tradition”, Sports, 9th October).
I, for one, will certainly miss taking in their unique stances as they fulfil their roles, appreciating the crispness of their uniforms, enjoying the range of tones as they shout “out” or “fault”. Moreover, I will undoubtedly miss the intermittent tiffs between the occasional disgruntled player and an umpire, often sparked by their decisions.
We won’t forget his contribution! – Yours Sincerely,
CLARE BALFE,
Dublin 7.”