You may be wondering how many challenges in tennis there are or the challenges rules for tennis players. This is a lesser-discussed component of the sport, so any confusion is understandable. Luckily, we’ve searched plenty and have this answer for you.
In tennis, a “challenge” is when a player requests an official review of the ball’s placement, typically when they disagree with the umpire’s call or are unsure where the ball landed. In each set, you have three challenges, and an additional one is given if the set goes into a tiebreak.
Are you still curious about challenges in tennis? We have much more to share below, so stay tuned!
Table of Contents
What is A Challenge in Tennis?
Challenges are made thanks to technological advancements in tennis, which allow the ball to be monitored and tracked during a professional event. You can ask for one if it is unclear where a ball landed, possibly gaining you a point.
Most times, a player questioning a line call can then ask the umpire to refer to the built-in ball tracking system to review the ball. This could mean an incorrect score is reversed, etc.
However, you only have a limited number of challenges per set, so that’s worth remembering. If you go beyond that limitation, you can only challenge the ball/umpire once in the next set. This has happened on occasion, so try and use these challenges wisely.
Understanding the basics of a set is also worth it for beginner, intermediate, and even professional-level tennis players.
How Many Challenges Do You Get In Tennis?
Tennis players are given three challenges per set during a match. You typically play a best-of-three set format, totaling six games in a set and two or three sets in a match, so that’s important.
If you use up your challenges within the first set, you must wait until the six games are over and your three challenge allowance resets.
That said, if there is a clear discrepancy during a professional tennis match, the umpire or a coach should be able to see it and correct any incorrect calling or scoring. There are cameras and ball-tracing machines for this very reason.
You could also bring up any issues with the scorekeeper as you switch sides of the court.
When Were Challenges Introduced In Tennis?
Challenges have only been around a couple of decades; beginning on March 6, 2006, the USTA, the ATP, and the WTA announced that Hawk-Eye (an electronic line calling technology) would be introduced to professional events.
It’s also worth noting that the Hawk-Eye technology was officially launched at that year’s Miami Masters, where many players were excited for a more precise tracking method.
Until then, we relied on the scorekeeper and other match attendees to keep an eye on where the ball landed, often leading to issues with scoring. Hawk-Eye became the universal way we tracked the ball during sets, matches, and tournaments.
The History Of Hawk-Eye In Tennis
The history of Hawk-Eye tracking technology in tennis stems from a young British computer expert, Paul Hawkins, and was launched in 2001. Once out, this technology was used for sports like cricket and eventually became the standard for tennis.
The definition of this tracking system:
Hawk-Eye is a computer vision system used in numerous sports, such as cricket, tennis, Gaelic football, badminton, hurling, rugby union, association football, and volleyball, to visually track the trajectory of the ball and display a profile of its statistically most likely path as a moving image.
We now use this for nearly all sports, as it has proven to be the most accurate way of scorekeeping in the modern era. Tennis can be a challenging sport to track, especially at the professional level, so this comes in handy.
Our post on the fastest tennis serves in history is a good related read.
How Challenges Work In Tennis
When a tennis player calls a challenge, this works like a second chance to check if the ball landed in the line and is valid. You see this at the amateur and professional level. Challenges are a great way to double-check if the umpire or scorekeeper was correct in scoring, which can make or break a match.
As we mentioned, you only have three challenges to use per set. Your match may be upwards of 18 games per match, with two or three sets. That would give you up to nine challenges for a three-set match.
However, there should not be many issues with scoring at the professional level, so these aren’t excuses to call fouls every time you lose. Players have done this, leading to plenty of boos and a bad reputation.
Only use challenges if you need to.
How Many Challenges Do You Get At Wimbledon?
For tennis players at Wimbledon, you can expect them to have unlimited challenges per set, plus an additional challenge in a tiebreaker. However, once three incorrect challenges are made, you must wait until the next set to call another challenge.
That is on par with most challenge requirements, although Wimbledon is highly tracked, and you only have a few being called here. Players can access the Hawk-Eye monitor, which helps with any issues.
Regardless, tennis athletes playing at Wimbledon can use all their challenges per set as they please. If you encounter two ‘wrong’ calls in a row and you believe your ball is in court or your opponent’s is not, call a challenge.
How Many Challenges Do You Get At The US Open?
Tennis players involved in the US Open are given three challenges per set and an additional one during a tiebreak. You can use these for things such as double bounces, a ball touching a player’s body, a player touching the net, or a player being hindered by noise. If a tennis player calls a valid challenge, they’re awarded the extra tiebreak one.
You also have access to the Hawk-Eye monitor, which most coaches and team members closely watch throughout each event. Not much gets past the US open scorekeepers, so this shouldn’t be a frequent call made.
However, if another player or audience member is purposefully making noise to mess up your game, that’s enough reason to call a challenge.
Challenge Rules For Grand Slam Tournaments
Regarding the challenge rules during Grand Slam tournaments, each player is given three challenges PER set they play. They may also receive an additional challenge in the event of a tiebreak. This is on par with the US Open.
A Grand Slam in tennis refers to these events:
- Australia Open
- Roland Garros
- Wimbledon
- US Open
You also want to remember that additional challenges may be rewarded if you continue to call out correct challenges and there’s an obvious issue with the umpire or scorekeeper.
Can Coaches Make Challenge Calls In Tennis?
No. Coaches may not make challenge calls during tennis matches or events. The player has to do this on the court, immediately pausing the game while everyone figures out the scoring.
If a coach interferes with this process, that can get them and their player in trouble. This falls under the etiquette guidelines of tennis and should be closely followed. Causing a fuss is not a good way to get your desired result in tennis, especially during something like a Grand Slam tournament.
Conclusion
In this post, we went over what a challenge in tennis is and why these matters. Most often, tennis players get three challenges per set, which could add up to nine in a three-set match. Do not be afraid to call one if you suspect something is incorrect with the official scoring.
You also want to remember only you can call a challenge. Not a coach, teammate, or bystander.
