As Electronic Line Calling Expands Across Tennis, ATP and WTA Aim to Resolve Disputes and Improve Consistency

31 October 2026

The collaboration between the ATP and WTA on electronic line calling (ELC) is the latest development in a wider push to standardize and expand automated officiating technology across tennis. At the heart of this joint effort is a push to resolve on-court disputes and improve the accuracy and consistency of line calls. The ATP announced in April 2023 that it would adopt Electronic Line Calling Live (ELC Live) across the Tour, covering all court lines for "out" calls during matches. ELC Live is set to roll out in 2025, and ATP rules state that all ATP Tour tournaments, regardless of surface, will be required to use the ATP-approved and designated Live ELC system.

This move comes as the ITF introduced a three-tier classification system for electronic line-calling (ELC) systems in July 2025. The new framework, which categorizes ELC systems as Gold, Silver, or Bronze, was developed in collaboration with the four Grand Slams, the ATP, and the WTA. This collaboration follows a long history of partnerships between these governing bodies, with ATP and WTA officials working with the ITF and Grand Slam representatives to evaluate ELC systems for over a decade, as far back as the early 2000s.

A History of Automated Officiating in Tennis

The ATP's commitment to ELC Live, which will be managed by chair umpires, is part of a broader move towards automated officiating in the sport. The technology was first trialed at the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, and its use became more widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic. As vaccination programs began to roll out, and matches began to unfold without social distancing, officials began looking at automated officiating as a solution to staffing challenges. Now, the game has grown with that technology, and the ATP is standardizing its own system for 2025.

Australian Open and US Open Already Deep in ELC Use

The use of ELC is now common at the top echelons of tennis. The Australian Open, US Open, and Wimbledon have already phased out line judges in favor of electronic line calls. The French Open, which occurs over soft clay courts, still uses a combination of umpires and line calls as of the most recent reported data. The ATP-Live system will mean that even the smallest ATP tournaments will be standardizing the approach.

The ATP currently uses ELC Live on hard courts and grass courts, while final testing for use on clay courts is underway. ELC Live is one of several approved systems by the ATP, with the ATP Chairman's Cup in 2022 not ruling to allow the veil off a unified ELC standard. Bolt 6 is currently the only vendor approved to provide their proprietary ELC technology in an ATP match. Other companies are dedicated to challenging that monopoly as ELC takes root.

Looking Ahead: The Future of ELC in Tennis

The expansion of ELC technology is a crucial step in modernizing the sport of tennis. The ATP and WTA have been instrumental in driving this progress, and their collaboration with the ITF and Grand Slam tournaments will help ensure that the technology is implemented consistently and fairly across the sport. According to a spokesperson at the ATP, further automation of officiating announcements is likely in the coming years.