Your best Wimbledon questions answered

BBC News

a day ago

BBC Sport has been asking for your questions during Wimbledon 2025.Hundreds of you have been in touch and we've picked out some of the best to take a look at.Here are the answers from our Ask Me Anything team.
How much advertising are players allowed to wear on their clothing at Wimbledon?
Question from Graham in KenilworthThe Grand Slam rulebook has specific guidelines on the identification allowed on a player's clothing during the tournament.On shirts, sweaters or jackets, one manufacturer's identification - the catch-all term for the company name, logo or a combination of the two - is allowed on each sleeve but must not exceed eight square inches.On the front, back and collar, a total of two manufacturer's identifications are permitted.Two commercial logos can be worn on the sleeves or the front - each no more than three square inches.For shorts and skirts, two manufacturer's identifications are allowed, within the right sizing. Should a player wear a dress, it would be treated as a combination of a shirt and skirt.The manufacturer's ID is permissible on each sock and shoe, while one ID is permitted for hats, headbands, wristbands or masks.Any player who violates these rules will receive a fine up to ($250,000) £183,855.
How long does it take to queue for a ground pass?
Question from Adam in SloughWimbledon's website states that queues often start the evening before and increase very early in the morning.The grounds open at 10:00 BST - but organisers can't say for how long you will be in the queue.Guests are asked to download the myWimbledon app and will be given a queue card. When there is capacity, screen messages will be displayed inviting guests in queue card number order to purchase tickets.Watch our top tips for queuing at Wimbledon.
How do they make the grass on the courts so stripy?
Question from Morag in New AberdourThe Wimbledon grass courts are mowed every day and the white lines are also given a daily refresh. This process takes place during a two-hour period from about 07:30 BST each day.Will Brierley, lead groundsperson at Wimbledon told BBC Sport: "Each pair of courts will have a team of three, a mower, a marker and a string person."The string person helps the marker by putting down the string line so that they know where they are marking out. They will also carry a mop so that any transfer lines that come from the mower going over the white lines are removed."In terms of keeping the lines so straight, Brierley said the staff get a few months of practice in before the Championships begin."When we mow during the tournament, we start from the centre line of the court and then work outwards, specifically to fit in our Wimbledon mowing pattern," he added. "There are eight lines from the centre line to the first tram line, and then there are three mowing patterns inside the tram lines and then back out to the edge of the court. But it is just practice!"The striped pattern is mowed in that design. The combination of mowing and the how it looks in the light creates its stripy effect.
What happens to the tennis courts at Wimbledon outside the tournament?
Question from Michael in RustingtonWimbledon is the home of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), an active private members' club. Outside of the two-week window for the Championships, it is used for members' tournaments as well as those on a national or international level.There is also a renovation period to prepare the grounds for next year's Championships, including re-seeding the grass courts and scarifying the grass, external if needed.
Can players challenge electronic digital line calls? Has there been an instance when it has been wrong?
Question from Mark in HertfordshirePlayers cannot challenge the electronic line calls. However, any close calls will be replayed automatically.No automated technology is completely reliable - but the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) told BBC Sport that the criteria used to assess the electronic line calling systems are "extremely robust" to ensure that "only the most reliable and accurate systems can be used".
How does the referee decide when to suspend play?
Question from Sally in WarwickshireBen Shelton's second-round match against Rinky Hijikata on Thursday was suspended because of bad light when he was two sets up and led 5-4 in the third - so was potentially one game from victory.Wimbledon tournament director Jamie Baker said the decision to bring Shelton and Hijikata off court was because of "extremely dark" light.Shelton completed the match on Friday in 84 seconds, but Baker said the move to suspend play the previous evening was "definitely the right decision"."Our focus at all times is the integrity of the competition. We try, with every decision we make, to be as fair as we possibly can [and] uphold the rules of the tournament," said Baker."We gave the players as much time as we possibly could to try to finish that match. We played till very, very late. It was extremely dark."We have a team of officials who are on the court, and they're making a judgment call on several different factors, and one of them is how the players feel."Ben actually had match point in the last game [on Thursday] that he didn't quite get and then at 5-4, the officials saw how dark it was."This is the pinnacle tennis tournament in the world. They just did not feel comfortable with the match continuing in almost complete darkness. So we do stand by the decision."Sometimes these things happen. Lots of matches to get on court, but yes, it was definitely the right decision from the officials."
Will Sonay Kartal become the new British number one?
Question from Josh in BirminghamIn terms of LTA World Tour ranking points, Emma Raducanu's third-round match with world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Friday had a lot at stake.Going into Wimbledon 2025, Raducanu was the top-ranked British woman at 40th in the world. The next two best Britons were Katie Boulter in 43rd and Sonay Kartal in 51st.Because Raducanu reached the fourth round in 2024, she was defending 240 points at this year's tournament and started 43 ahead of Boulter.Boulter was defending 70. Because she exited in the second round, she maintained those 70 for the tournament.Kartal is defending 130 but for reaching the fourth round, has already earned 240 ranking points for the 2025 edition, meaning a gain in ranking points of at least 110.Kartal's guaranteed gain takes her above Raducanu following the former US Open champion's loss in the third round to Sabalenka.Boulter also moves ahead of Raducanu - and for now is the British number one.But this would change again if Kartal progresses beyond round four. If she does this, she is guaranteed to move above Boulter when the tournament ends.
How do the AI line judges tell a foot from a ball?
Question from Kath in South WalesThe ITF and AELTC say the system used is not artificial intelligence, but an electronic line calling system.They said: "The system is a highly advanced real time optical tracking system that captures and tracks the position of the ball and the players throughout every point in the match. "As the system tracks these positions continuously during play, it can identify the positions of the ball and the player, including their feet - balls and feet move very differently on court."This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
What is Ask Me Anything?
Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.These questions came from Graham in Kenilworth, Adam in Slough, Morag in New Aberdour, Michael in Rustington, Mark in Hertfordshire, Sally in Warwickshire, Josh in Birmingham and Kath in South Wales. Thanks all for your questions!We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts, including our experts and pundits.We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events.Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio.
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