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The Final Word: "Let"s Just Play

Have you ever had a dispute with a fellow player over a call on the court that you couldn’t settle? Or have you ever wondered why a certain ruling was made during a match you were watching? Maybe you’re just curious about how some scenarios, from the common to the ridiculous, are resolved.

The USTA constantly receives these types of questions from players and fans, so we figured it’s about time we provided a forum in which queries about rules can be answered. Thus, we present to you The Final Word.

Readers can send their burning questions about the rules of tennis along with their name and town to FinalWord@USTA.com. Each week, we will select submissions and supply the definitive rulings though a Q&A with USTA Director of Officials Richard Kaufman.

On to this week's questions and responses...

Robert (from Florida)

If my opponent serves and I call a let, but he does not agree, who has the final say?

KAUFMAN: Few people know this, but according to "The Code, a Players' Guide to Unofficiated Matches", any player (in singles or doubles) can call a service let (ball touching the net). It must be done promptly. Usually the receiver(s) make the call and many players on the serving side decide not to get involved with the call thinking maybe they were mistaken.

If the server hears a clear let and the receiver does not call it, it is best for the server to call it ASAP. Otherwise, the server hears a let and the receiver hits a winner, and after some hesitation, the server asks "Did you hear a let?" That is always difficult situation to resolve after the point has been played.

Peter H. (from Cumming, GA)

If you hit the net with your follow through you obviously lose the point. What if your follow through breaks the plane of the net?

KAUFMAN: A player may break the plain of the net on a follow through from a shot as long as the ball was on that player's side of the court when the ball was struck.

The player may not touch the net, or the opponent’s court with anything that the player wears or carries or with any part of the body.

Clara M. (from Honolulu, HI)

I was playing singles and hit a short shot, we both came up to the net. I clearly saw the double bounce and saw her hit the ball on the second bounce. My opponent argued that she hit the ball on the first bounce. What should I do at that point as I felt it was clearly a double bounce?

KAUFMAN: The person who hits the ball is responsible for calling a double bounce against themselves. It is not their opponents call to make.You can ask that player if they are certain of that call. However, again, it is up to that player to make that call.

John L. (from King of Prussia, PA)

While receiving a first serve in doubles, my partner called it out, and I stopped playing. I actually thought the serve was good, and could have easily returned it before stopping play. Our opponents questioned the call, which my partner defended, but I did not enter the discussion, and her call prevailed. My later reading of The Code revealed the following: (1) if I had stopped play and disagreed with my partner's line call, then we would have lost the point (based on "indecision" about the call, regardless of whether it was on a first or a second serve), and (2) if I had not stopped play immediately, but instead had returned the serve successfully, and then stopped play, then our opponents would have been entitled to a let. Are these interpretations of the rules correct?

KAUFMAN: If there is disagreement or you corrected your call, the benefit must go to the opposing team and the shot is considered good.

1. If you acknowledge that your return shot on any serve or during a rally is a "weak sitter" (or in other words it was or would have been an easy put away for the opposing team) the point should go to your opponents.
2. If your return shot on any serve or during a rally lands out, or in the net, or you had no play on the ball, or you did not play the ball, the point goes to your opponents. An out call made by one of the players on a team cannot be considered a hindrance to their partner on their returned shot.
3. If you determine that your return shot on any serve or during a rally is not a “weak sitter” (or in other words it would NOT have been an easy put away for the opposing team) AND the shot did land or would have landed in the court, replay the ENTIRE point; first serve.
4. The team in disagreement on a line call can never win the point as a result of their return, even if it was a winner. In addition, the result of any shot made by your opponents off of your questioned returned shot is irrelevant. The out call made by on

Past Articles:
The Final Word: Errant Shots
The Final Word: Gimme a Break
The Final Word: Doubles Dose

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