All-female umpire team in charge of Sofia Open making tennis history
WTASaturday, 01 October 2022 at 02:00
Updated at Tuesday, 04 February 2025 at 16:11
An all-female officiating team took care of the 2022 Sofia Open. It was the first time in history that an all-female umpire team took care of an ATP event.
The 2022 Sofia Open has entertained fans in Bulgaria, but the tournament also wrote history. For the first time, a team that consisted only of women took care of an ATP event.
It wasn't something that was planned. Instead, it happened organically, and tournament director Kay Godkhindi was happy that the Sofia Open could write history in this way.
"To be honest we didn’t realise as it all happened organically for us. The tournament team was built with people who just love what they do."
"I've been involved with organizing both men’s and women's events, and while they both have their special requirements, at the end of the day, it's the same thing — making sure to keep all the balls in the air, ensuring everyone is happy and that we continue to strive and deliver the best tournament."
"We are a small part of a greater movement that your gender doesn’t define your capabilities, but it’s great to have equal opportunity in both the ATP and the WTA and empowering women whenever possible is always a step in the right direction. It’s fantastic that the ATP are championing this by hiring ATP supervisors and chair umpires."
Anne Lasserre was one of the female officials. Lasserre served as the ATP Supervisor in Sofia, and it was an honor for her as well to be part of a historic team of referees.
"I think it’s an honor as well to be the first female. I worked as a chair umpire for the ATP a long time ago. I think things and the situation are evolving, which I think is a good thing."
"It’s an honor, I’m proud of it…It’s good to think about the future and being able to break this glass ceiling and give this opportunity to other females to do the same job like we do in every sport."
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