Chair Umpire

The chair umpire is the final authority on all questions of fact during the match. Aside from the players, the Chair Umpire is the most important person on court during a match.

The Chair Umpire has enormous responsibility during a match, and are responsible for everything from calling the score to enforcing the rules and managing the players. A successful Chair Umpire needs great communication skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and 20:20 vision.

The best Chair Umpires work full-time in the role, travelling the world with the tennis tour.

Questions of fact include whether a ball was in, the calling of a service let or the calling of a foot fault. In matches where line umpires are also assigned, the chair umpire has the right to overrule if they are sure that a clear mistake has been made. The Chair Umpire makes a first determination on all questions of law arising during the match, subject to the right of a player to appeal to the Referee.

The chair umpire is often situated in a tall chair at the center of the court, behind a net post. The players’ benches are to either side of the chair. From this position, the chair umpire calls the score of the match to the players and spectators between points. At the conclusion of a point, game, or set, the chair umpire times the players to ensure they follow ITF regulations on pace of play. The chair umpire is responsible for completing a scorecard, the official historical record of the match.

They apply the Rules of Tennis, the Code of Conduct, and the Tournament Regulations on court. In the absence of some or all Line Umpires, the Chair Umpire assumes all their duties except those that they may delegate to another umpire or to the players. During a match, the Chair Umpire may rotate, remove or replace any Line Umpire if such action will improve the officiating of the match. The Chair Umpire is the final authority on all questions of fact arising during the match.