Kader Nouni

Kader Nouni (born 23 February 1976) is a French tennis umpire. He works primarily for the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and has officiated six major finals. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) certified him as a gold badge umpire in 2007. Known for his baritone voice, Nouni is sometimes called the "Barry White of tennis".

Early life Nouni was born to Algerian-French immigrants on 23 February 1976. Nouni and his older brother were raised in public housing by a single mother after his father died when he was two.

Later, local tournaments hired him to officiate adult matches from age 12. At the 2015 French Open, Victoria Azarenka thought she had saved a set point after a miss by Serena Williams, but because a line judge made a late incorrect call on Azarenka's previous shot, Nouni had the players replay the point (instead of awarding it to Azarenka outright). At the 2023 French Open, Nouni missed a double bounce on Holger Rune's side and then penalised Francisco Cerúndolo for stopping mid-court as a ball kid began to run on, also thinking the point was over.

Recognition Nouni's deep baritone voice, fashion sense, and personality have helped make him one of the most famous tennis umpires today. Other sources describe his tone as "honeyed", "resonant and melodic", "seductive", and "soothing", and note his thick French accent.

Personal life Nouni met his wife, Melanie Conesa, in 2010. They have two children. , when Nouni is not traveling, he lives with his family in Perpignan.