Man wedges antique chair into his Porsche, Islington, London, 07/2024
Dead chair behind the Alma, Newington Green, London 07/2024
9 stages of Steelwood Chair, 2008/9.
Image courtesy of Magis S.p.A.
Our laundry chair, Steelwood Chair by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec 2008/9. 07/2024
The blue stools, Perugia. 06/2024
Chair Umpires
As Carlos Alcaraz's triumphant roar echoed across Centre Court at Wimbledon this year, signalling a seismic shift in tennis's power dynamics, my gaze was drawn not to the jubilant young champion, but to the silent sentinel of a chair that had witnessed it all – the umpire's chair.The umpire's chair has come a long way since the early days of tennis. In the sport's infancy, umpires often sat on regular chairs or even called matches from ground level. The elevated chair we know today emerged in the early 20th century, driven by the need for better visibility and authority over increasingly large crowds and complex matches.
Image courtesy of dimensions.com
Source: https://www.dimensions.com/element/tennis-umpire-chair-traditional
For those unfamiliar with Wimbledon or tennis, this seat stands over 2 metres tall. From this elevated perch, accessed by stairs, the umpire oversees play, supported in their decision-making by screens displaying replays via the Hawk-Eye system. As former Wimbledon champion John McEnroe once quipped, "That chair is like a throne, and some umpires let the power go to their heads." While McEnroe's relationship with umpires was notoriously contentious, his observation highlights the symbolic importance and inherent power dynamic of the umpire's elevated position.
Professional tennis requires a complex infrastructure: linespeople, umpires, ball boys and girls, seating for players and audience, the umpire's chair, and the net. This is before considering the changing dynamics created by alternating playing surfaces. Part of tennis's allure, beyond the high-octane matchplay, lies in its visual and material identity.
Tennis is inherently sartorial and undeniably stylish, and has been for decades. The players' attire, bolstered by lucrative sponsorship deals with major and emerging sporting brands, contributes significantly to this image. For instance, Roger Federer's deal with On now earns him more than he ever did with Nike.
The sport is as captivating for its demand of mental fortitude as it is for physical athleticism. One can observe the varying temperaments across generations of players: current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner's icy composure contrasts sharply with Andy Murray's passionate outbursts and frequent exasperation directed at his coaching box.
Andy Murray rages at a chair umpire
The umpire, stoic and all-seeing plays a crucial role; tracking scores, making decisions (sometimes punitive), and literally overseeing play. In modern Grand Slam tennis, it's rare to see the umpire leave their chair. Decisions are aided by technology through increasingly sophisticated renditions of their seat, with replays and the Hawk-Eye system controlled from an onboard console next to the writing board. Equipped with a microphone and connected to the stadium's public announcement system, the umpire relays scoring decisions live, their voice echoing around the arena. While the audience focuses on the match and players, the umpire remains centre stage, facilitating, mediating, and governing the game from on high.
While tennis umpires preside from their lofty perches, their counterparts in other sports have markedly different setups. Baseball umpires crouch behind home plate, volleyball referees stand on platforms, and basketball officials run the court alongside players. The tennis umpire's chair stands unique in its height and prominence, reflecting the sport's emphasis on tradition and decorum.
These chairs, however, don't seem particularly comfortable. The backrest isn't very high, and while there are arm supports, there's no head support. In professional tournament play, officials often sit for more than three hours at a time. They occasionally get to stretch during player injuries, forfeits, or weather delays—the latter being all too common at this year's Wimbledon. In the event of rain, the umpire's high chair, equipped with wheels, is rapidly moved to allow for court covers to be deployed.
Edwards, the company supplying Wimbledon with wooden umpire chairs, has been doing so for over 100 years; interestingly they also supply netting to the championships as well. I have fond memories of these umpire chairs housing bottles of Evian and Robinsons for the players as I watched endless summers of tennis with my mother before running to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of squash.
Name a more iconic duo.
Source: Weald Refridgeration
The umpire's seat, and players' seats for that matter, seem to be overlooked areas where design could play a greater role in Grand Slams and tournaments. These could be excellent opportunities for host nations to showcase emerging or established designers, positioning another designed element front and centre in the stadium. For tournaments beyond Wimbledon with minimal sponsorship, this could also present an opportunity to partner with local furniture brands. In my opinion, this is an underexplored avenue for extending the design quality of tennis, adding another dimension to the sport's visual and material culture. This could even stretch to some form of softpower in some instances, similar to how nations issue detailed press releases as they strut out new olympics costumes.
Their agency is often less overt than that of, for example, political slogans or statements. However, their silent presence is capable of negotiating and manipulating powerful ideological messages.
— Fredie Floré and Cammie McAtee in ‘The politics of furniture,’ 2017
In the mid-2000s, Roland Garros attempted to explore this concept with French designer Pierre Charpin. Sadly, the project to install new seating on famous courts such as Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen fell by the wayside when the tournament's general manager in charge of the project left. However, this effort wasn't entirely in vain, as manufacturer Tectona put Charpin's design into production in 2007. The design is elegant, comprising a lightweight structure that is visually unobtrusive and features wood panelling.
This design represents a tasteful update to the seating you might find at your local tennis club, typically made of plastic or metal. Stylistically, it has more nuance, and devoid of the contraptions required for professional tournament play, it could be equally at home as a lifeguard's chair by a pool. It is quiet, simple, and refined—qualities that amateur tennis players either aspire to embody or imagine themselves possessing on the court. Any courtside accessory that embodies this feeling is a welcome addition to the sport's aesthetic.
Tennis Umpires Chair by Pierre Charpin for Tectona, 2007
Source: https://www.tectona.net/en_gb/collections/tennis/
As tennis continues to evolve, the umpire's chair remains a steadfast symbol of authority and tradition. Yet, like young Alcaraz dethroning the old guard on the court, perhaps it's time for this overlooked piece of tennis iconography to undergo its own revolution. The next time you watch a match, take a moment to consider the silent sentinel presiding over the drama – for in its design lies the potential to reshape the very essence of how we experience the sport.
References:
https://www.complex.com/sneakers/a/matt-welty/roger-federers-big-bet-with-on-is-paying-off
https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/mckinnon-harris-umpire-chair-release/
https://www.tectona.net/it_it/pierre-charpin-e-la-creazione.html
https://www.dimensions.com/element/tennis-umpire-chair-traditional
https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/63163/1/designers-behind-team-mongolia-viral-olympics-2024-kit-michel-amazonka-paris
https://www.routledge.com/The-Politics-of-Furniture-Identity-Diplomacy-and-Persuasion-in-Post-War-Interiors/Flore-McAtee/p/book/9781138342156