Law 28: Role of Court Officials

The referee's decision on the law is final.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

Facts are the chair umpire's to decide.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

Players may appeal points of law, not questions of fact.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

Line umpires make every call on their line, foot faults included.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

Without a line umpire, that line is the chair umpire's.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

With no decision on the fact, the point is played again.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · applied

In that setting the referee decides facts too.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

The question passes up to the chair, and a replay is the last resort.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · applied

Line umpires call their lines, the chair decides facts, the referee rules on the law.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

The chair umpire in the high chair decides questions of fact.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · applied

Only a clear mistake, of which the chair is sure, justifies an overrule.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 5 · recall

An overrule must come straight after the mistake.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 3 · recall

A chair umpire never overrules because a player protests.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 4 · applied

A line umpire corrects a realised mistake promptly, never because of a protest.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 6 · recall

If the wrong call was no hindrance, the hitter wins the point; if it was, the point is replayed.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 7 · applied

That keeps the ends right for the restart.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

The match picks up exactly where it stopped.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 28 with Appendix VII · recall

The question of hindrance decides between a replay and the point.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 7 · applied

Points of law go to the referee on appeal.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 1 · applied

Whether a ball was in or out is a fact for the chair umpire, not the referee.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII, Case 2 · applied

Only clay keeps a readable ball mark.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · recall

Either the shot ended the point, or the player stopped playing to ask.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · recall

The chair umpire may ask the line umpire to point out the mark but inspects it personally.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · recall

Without a readable mark, the call stands.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · applied

Once the mark is identified and ruled on, the decision cannot be appealed.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · recall

Erasing the mark gives the call away.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · applied

Crossing the net to look at a mark falls under the Code of Conduct.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · recall

The chair umpire inspects personally and decides for good.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · recall

On clay the umpire is not quick to call the score when in doubt.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · applied

If the mark is unreadable, the original call or overrule stands.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Ball mark inspection) · applied

The request must come at once: the player stops the rally and asks for the review, rather than playing the point out and asking afterwards.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

Unreasonable or untimely requests can be refused.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

If the system cannot decide, nothing changes.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · applied

Three unsuccessful appeals per set, with one more in a tie-break.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

Each player gets one additional appeal in the tie-break.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

Only unsuccessful appeals are counted.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

Long advantage sets refresh the count at 6-6 and every 12 games after.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

One, three, and no limit.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

The system's result is the chair umpire's final, unappealable decision.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · recall

The set's three are gone; only the tie-break's extra one is left.

Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VII (Electronic review) · applied