Marin Čilić and the End of Line Judges: Has Tennis Lost Its Soul?
Marin Čilić, one of Croatia’s top tennis players, has raised his voice against a decision that shook the entire tennis world. Line judges have been officially removed from all ATP tournaments, including Wimbledon, where Čilić just advanced to the third round. But it’s not just about his game – Čilić openly stated that he does not like this change at all.
Why is Čilić upset?
Line judges have been an integral part of the tennis family for decades. Čilić points out that these people often dreamed of becoming tennis players or simply loved the sport. Becoming a chief umpire is not easy – it’s a long process that starts as a line judge. Now, with the introduction of technology like HawkEye Live, line judges are gone. Čilić says it’s like erasing an entire huge family that has built tennis over the years.
Technology has taken over
Starting this year, all ATP tournaments use electronic systems to call lines. Wimbledon was the last major tournament to resist full digitalization, but it too gave in under the pressure of precision and game speed. HawkEye Live and similar systems provide millimeter accuracy and eliminate human error, which is especially important in matches where one call can decide the winner.
But at what cost?
Although the technology is nearly flawless and speeds up the game, Čilić and many others believe that removing line judges is a loss for the sport. Line judges are not just officials – they are part of tennis tradition, atmosphere, and the human factor that made tennis special. Now, the chief umpire is alone on the court, and players can no longer challenge calls – everything relies on cold technology.
What does this mean for the future of tennis?
Will tennis become colder and less emotional? Will the audience lose part of the magic watching matches without line judges? Čilić is clear – such changes are bad not only for tennis but for everyone who loves the sport and enjoys its tradition.
Conclusion
Technology is unstoppable, but is it worth sacrificing the human factor and part of the tennis family? Marin Čilić is a voice of reason in a world rushing towards digitalization at any cost. Maybe it’s time to ask – has tennis lost its soul?
What do you think? Are you for or against removing line judges? Or do you not care as long as the ball flies? Drop a comment, let the crowd’s voice be heard – because tennis is our sport too, right?
