How Many Challenges Do You Get In Tennis?

You may be wondering how many challenges you can get in a tennis match. The answer may surprise you. Learn more about the challenge system in tennis and how it can affect your game.

The Number of Challenges You Get in a Tennis Match Depends on the Tournament

In a tennis match, each player is allowed a certain number of unsuccessful attempts to hit the ball within the boundaries of the court. This is called a “challenge.” The number of challenges per player per match varies depending on the tournament. For example, at the Wimbledon tournament, each player is allowed three challenges per set.

Grand Slams

In a Grand Slam tournament, you get three opportunities to challenge the umpire’s call. If you’re correct, you retain the challenge. If you’re incorrect, you lose the challenge. This system is in place for matches played on clay courts.

For matches played on hard courts (including the Australian Open and the US Open), you get three opportunities to challenge the umpire’s call in the first set. In the second set, however, you only get two opportunities to challenge the umpire’s call. If a tiebreaker is required to determine the winner of the match, each player gets one additional opportunity to challenge the umpire’s call.

ATP and WTA Tournaments

The number of challenges you get in a tennis match depends on the tournament. ATP and WTA tournaments have different rules.

ATP (men’s) tournaments use the Hawk-Eye system to challenge calls. Each player gets three incorrect challenges per set. If the player is correct on the challenge, they get the challenge back. If they are incorrect, they lose the challenge. There are no Challenges allowed in tiebreaks.

WTA (women’s) tournaments use a similar system called “Hawkeye on Courts”. Each player gets two incorrect challenges per set plus one additional challenge if the set goes to a tiebreak. As with ATP tournaments, if a player is correct on their challenge, they get the challenge back. If they are incorrect, they lose the challenge.

Davis Cup and Fed Cup

In Davis Cup and Fed Cup, you have three opportunities to challenge the umpire’s call. If you’re correct, you keep your challenge; if you’re wrong, you lose one of your challenges. There are no second chances in Davis Cup or Fed Cup.

You Get Three Challenges per Set in Most Tournaments

If the Score Is Tied at 6 Games All, You Get One More Challenge

If the score is tied at 6 games all, you get one more challenge. This is because at this point, the player who wins the next game will win the set. So, if you have one challenge left, you can use it to challenge the last game. If you have no challenges left, then you can only hope that the umpire or lines people make the right call!

You Can Challenge an Umpire’s Call on a Point That Has Already Been Played

In tennis, you can challenge an umpire’s call on a point that has already been played. This is called a Hawk-Eye challenge. Up to three incorrect calls can be challenged per set. When a challenge is made, the umpire will review the call using the Hawk-Eye system. If the umpire’s call is overturned, the challenged player will win the point.

If the Ball Is In or Out

You can only challenge a call on a point that has already been played. If the ball is still in play—for example, on a first serve that the umpire called out but the receiving player thinks was in—you cannot stop play to challenge the call. You have to wait until the point is over.

If a Ball Is Called Long

In tennis, if the ball is called long, you can challenge the call. This is true for any point, even if it has already been played. If you challenge the call and the ball is in fact long, you will lose the point. However, if you challenge the call and the ball is in fact good, then the point will be replayed.

If a Foot Fault Is Called

In tennis, a foot fault is when the player serving the ball touches the baseline or court with their foot before the ball is hit. If the foot fault is called, the serving player will lose the point.

You can challenge an umpire’s call on a point that has already been played. If the challenge is successful, the point will be replayed. You are allowed two challenges per set, plus one additional challenge if you win the tiebreaker.

You Lose a Challenge If the Call Is Upheld

If you challenge a call and the call is upheld, then you lose the challenge. This happens more often than not, which is why it’s important to only challenge when you’re reasonably sure the initial call was wrong.

You Get One Additional Challenge If the Match Goes to a Tiebreaker

In regular sets, each player can challenge two incorrect calls per set. When a tiebreaker is played, each player gets one additional challenge. If the tiebreaker goes to sudden death, each player gets two additional challenges.

If the Set Goes to a Tiebreaker, You Get Two Additional Challenges

If the set goes to a tiebreaker, you get two additional challenges. If the match goes to a tiebreaker, you get one additional challenge. You can only use challenges on calls that you believe are incorrect.