The ABTO Podcast

Denise Parnell: Refereeing Wimbledon History

The ABTO Podcast, from the Association of British Tennis Officials, explores the world of tennis officiating through the voices of those who have shaped it. In this episode, we speak with Denise Parnell - the trailblazing tennis official who made history as the first female referee at the Wimbledon Championships. Denise shares insights into her role at what is widely considered the most prestigious sporting event in the world. She reflects on her journey to the top, the challenges she faced along the way, and why it has taken so long for a woman to step into this position. Denise's historic appointment as Wimbledon’s first female referee came in 2024 following her appointment as the first female referee at the ATP event at Queen’s Club in 2021, the same year she also served as referee for the Wimbledon qualifying event. Prior to these milestones, Denise spent over a decade honing her expertise in the Wimbledon referees' office, beginning in 2006. Before stepping into officiating, Denise competed as a professional tennis player in the 1980s and played in the main draw of the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles in 1986. Her excellence in officiating has earned her much recognition, including being named ABTO Referee of the Year in both 2021 and 2024.   Follow ABTO on Facebook [http://facebook.com/AssociationOfBritishTennisOfficials] Visit our website [https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/AssociationBritishTennisOfficials] Email us at abto.committee@gmail.com With thanks to editor Adam Woodward and the Wolfe Power Club Podcast [https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/]of Studio 55 for their technical support.

Eva Asderaki-Moore: Breaking Barriers from the Umpire’s Chair

The ABTO Podcast, from the Association of British Tennis Officials, explores the world of tennis officiating through the voices of those who have shaped it.  In this episode, host Malgorzata Grzyb sits down with trailblazing tennis chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, the first female to umpire a men’s singles final at the US Open in 2015. With an impressive 16 Grand Slam finals under her belt - including the US Open men’s singles final again in 2024 - Eva has presided over some of the sport’s most iconic matches. Her resume includes women's singles finals at the Australian Open (2020), the French Open (2023), Wimbledon (2013, 2017), and the US Open (2011, 2017, 2023), as well as the 2017 Davis Cup Final and the women's singles gold medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Beyond the umpire's chair, Eva is a passionate advocate for gender equality in sport, serving as an ambassador for the ITF’s Advantage All programme. In this podcast, listen as Eva reflects on making history at Flushing Meadows, shares how she stays on top of her game, and discusses why equity and inclusion in tennis officiating matter now more than ever.   Follow ABTO on Facebook [http://facebook.com/AssociationOfBritishTennisOfficials] Visit our website [https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/AssociationBritishTennisOfficials] Email us at abto.committee@gmail.com With thanks to editor Adam Woodward and the Wolfe Power Club Podcast [https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/]of Studio 55 for their technical support.

Carlos Bernardes: Game, Set and 8,000 Matches

The ABTO Podcast, from the Association of British Tennis Officials, explores the world of tennis officiating through the voices of those who have shaped it. In this episode, host Malgorzata Grzyb speaks with Brazilian chair umpire Carlos Bernardes as he reflects on nearly four decades at the heart of professional tennis. Carlos has presided over some of tennis’s most memorable matches - including the 2006 and 2008 US Open men’s singles finals, the 2011 Wimbledon men’s singles final, the 2016 and 2024 ATP year-end final, and no fewer than five Olympic Games. Having officiated over 8,000 matches and umpired 24 of the 29 players who have held the ATP World No. 1 ranking, Carlos shares stories from an impressive career that made him one of the sport’s most respected voices on court. In this podcast, Carlos offers a first-hand look at how the role of an umpire has evolved, the challenges and changes that he has witnessed, and his advice for aspiring officials hoping to follow in his footsteps.   Follow ABTO on Facebook [http://facebook.com/AssociationOfBritishTennisOfficials] Visit our website [https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/AssociationBritishTennisOfficials] Email us at abto.committee@gmail.com With thanks to editor Adam Woodward and the Wolfe Power Club Podcast [https://www.wolfepowerclub.com]of Studio 55 for their technical support.