10 Jun 2025

Gaone Poane’s career as a tennis umpire continues to soar as she officiated at the 2025 French Open over the weekend. 

Poane was notably the line umpire in the ladies singles final in which world number one Aryna Sabalenka lost to number two Coco Gauff, who won 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. Before that, Poane also officiated in a men’s singles quarterfinal match where Novak Djokovic beat Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. She was also the line umpire when the duo, Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, defeated Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6–0, 6–7, 7–5 in the men’s doubles. Poane’s good calls in the court did not catch the attention of Batswana only, but the world at large, and in that regard the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) is impressed by her sharpness and alertness throughout the entire competition. 

BTA vice president, Nonofo Othusitse said in an interview that the BTA and indeed the local tennis community was immensely proud of their award-winning tennis official. He said Poane continued to break barriers and fly the Botswana flag high on the global stage. Furthermore, he said her recent appointment as an official at the 2025 French Open, one of the four grand slams, was an outstanding achievement. 

Othusitse said being appointed as an official at the French Open or any grand slam was no small feat, as it required going through a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, overseen by the International Tennis Federation, the Women’s Tennis Association and the French Tennis Federation.

 “This is what makes this achievement both rare and deeply commendable. Her officiating at the 2025 French Open, following previous engagements at the Olympic Games, Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the French Open, and numerous ATP and WTA events, further cements her reputation as a trailblazer in tennis officiating, both in Botswana and across Africa. Her achievements will indeed open doors for more Batswana,” he said. ENDS