So, the drama of Wimbledon again (“Phew what a scorcher”)!

This year the tournament, like most of the other majors, has replaced line judges with electronic line-calling. As I wonder on what planet some demented sartorial arbiter might consider the former judges “best-dressed“, the courts are now depleted of what to one friend seemed like gatecrashers.

While this largely deprives the players of the frisson of dissent, and the melodrama of audience oohs and aahs as the Hawkeye screen zoomed in to assess a challenge, the new system does seem to be widely accepted. Still, as one comment reflected on the Guardian live feed:

Something felt off, and I couldn’t put my finger on it until you just reminded me about the absence of the line judges. Not only does the court look empty, but I’m surprised to find I also miss their shouts and shrieks, like a supply teacher trying to assert authority. This feels like a minor tournament without them, and it’ll take some getting used to.

See also this article. Since I wrote this, a succession of comments has appeared lamenting the change.

You can find plenty of intriguing posts on tennis under my Sporting medley.