Miriam Bley has been assigned as the chair umpire for the highly anticipated 2025 Wimbledon women’s singles final between former World No. 1 Iga Świątek and Amanda Anisimova.
The German official, who earned her gold badge in 2019, is no stranger to the sport’s biggest stages, but her recent run of high-profile controversies has made this appointment a hot topic across the tennis community.
The Road to Wimbledon: Miriam Bley’s Officiating Journey
Bley’s journey to the chair at Wimbledon is the result of nearly two decades of dedication to the sport. A tennis player herself in her youth, Bley transitioned into officiating after obtaining a basic coaching license in Germany, which included a mandatory refereeing module.
Miriam Bley from Germany will be the chair umpire of women’s singles final between Iga Swiatek Amanda Anisimova.
She has been a Gold Badge Chair Umpire since 2019. During her career she has chaired one Grand Slam final – 2025 women’s doubles final at Roland Garros.#Wimbledon
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) July 12, 2025
In an interview with the WTA, she described how officiating started almost by accident. “I never wanted to be a tennis coach,” she said. “When I did the lowest level of coaching license, they recommended me for the next one, but I said no. It was more to have something on paper that I was qualified to do summer camps.”
That coaching certification unexpectedly included a refereeing module, and she thought, “While I’m at it, I might as well do that.” Her first match as a chair umpire was a 2005 district semifinal in her hometown. “I had zero idea what was happening,” she admitted.
From there, she climbed the ranks through the International Tennis Federation’s badge system, earning her silver badge in 2015, the first German woman to do so, and achieving gold badge status four years later.
“I never thought I would ever get a gold badge,” Bley said. “I’m quite self-critical so I was never expecting that, but now that I got it, it makes me extremely proud.”
Since 2016, she has been part of the WTA’s second team of officials, traveling roughly 30 weeks each year and mentoring younger umpires.
“It is important to me that they feel they can reach out whenever they have a question or are in doubt,” she told the WTA. “For me, it is a huge honor when someone asks for help or assistance, as it shows they trust me and value what I do.”
MORE: Amanda Anisimova vs Iga Świątek Wimbledon 2025 Final Preview — Head–to–Head and Prediction
Bley’s Most Controversial Moments
Bley’s rise hasn’t come without controversy. In 2024, her officiating drew scrutiny in several high-stakes matches. At the US Open, she denied Anna Kalinskaya a crucial point after a disputed double bounce by Beatriz Haddad Maia. Kalinskaya requested a video review, but Bley stood by her call, prompting fan outrage and renewed calls for VAR in tennis.
Earlier that year in Dubai, she defaulted Andrey Rublev for allegedly insulting a line judge in Russian, despite no public evidence of the remark, sparking widespread criticism.
In 2023, Jeremy Chardy erupted at Bley during the Australian Open after she failed to halt play when a ball fell from his pocket mid-rally. The point was awarded to Dan Evans, and Chardy accused her of not paying attention.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka also clashed with Bley at the 2025 Stuttgart Open, snapping a photo of a ball mark after being denied a recheck on a key overrule, an action that earned her a code violation.
Despite these incidents, Bley remains one of the most experienced and respected officials on tour. Off the court, she’s described as deeply passionate about the sport, often watching matches even after long days officiating.
“I still love watching tennis, even after a long day officiating,” she told the WTA in a profile, adding that her husband, also a tennis umpire, jokes about her never getting tired of the game.
