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The Final Word: Better To Receive

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...

Steve T. (from Illinois)

In doubles, can the receiver's partner move as the opponent is serving?

Nancy R. (from California)

According to The Code, Rule 26. Hindrance, Case 5, the server's partner and the receiver's partner may stand anywhere on their side of the net, unless they are creating a hindrance. Does the receiver's partner, standing with one foot inside each service box and one to two feet toward the net from the service line, constitute a hindrance to the server? It has been conceded by the team doing this that it is deliberately done to make the service box appear smaller to the server. In addition, after the server tosses the ball into the air, but before she has struck the ball, the receiver's partner moves from her position to get out of the way of her partner's return.

(Answer to both questions above)
Players may not make motions that are meant to intentionally distract the opponent.

KAUFMAN: The receiver's partner may stand anywhere, even in the service box. Once the receiver's partner takes a position, he/she should remain there until the ball is struck. If the receiver's partner moves away before the ball is struck then it could be deemed that the only reason they initially took such a position was to hinder the server, and that is not allowed.

Waving your racket or stomping your feet is not permitted.

Eddy (from Florida)

I was recently told that an official rule book said that Alumni could not hit (play tennis) with the new tennis team during practice hours. I was just wondering where I can get an official high school tennis rule book and if there is any truth behind this so called "rule". Any insight into this would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time and patience.

KAUFMAN: This is not a Rule of Tennis. Some high school competition and their conferences have specific regulations on who can practice/hit with a team. For information on this, you should contact the schools or conference and the person in charge of organizing the competition for the school to answer your question.

Tom L. (from Tucson, AZ)

Does play stop in all cases of an "Out Call"? There are situations where a partner will tell his/her partner "Out" instead of "Bounce It" or "Let It Bounce" cautioning that the ball may be going out. If however, the partner plays the ball, instead of letting it drop, and makes a good return and their opponents don't play the return, is a let played?

KAUFMAN: First, despite what some people think, there is no rule that says you cannot say out' or other words of communication to your partner, especially when you're at the net and the ball is coming in your direction. And because such communication would invariably occur well before the ball has bounced, the claim that this could be mistaken for a line call is not legitimate.

The time confusion could occur is in your case when a player said 'out' or another form of communication to his/her partner standing at the baseline at the time when the ball bounced or was about to bounce. You were in the position to make a return of the ball and did so. In that case, saying "leave it" or "NO" would be preferable to saying 'out'. However, any word used when the ball lands on the ground or close to the ground when you or your partner hit the ball could be construed as a call. If a player yells "out” or some other form of communication at the moment or close to the moment the ball was played, it could very well hinder the opponents. If the opponents both thought that a call was made and both stopped, honestly thinking a call was made, then a let should be played since they did stop and honestly thought a call was made.

Jared S. (Pennsylvania)

If the server calls the wrong score in the game and the receiver disagrees with it, and both players are unable to replay each point in the game, how do determine the real score?


KAUFMAN: In an effort to resolve disputes:

You can play from an agreed score. You can also agree on some points and disagree on others. On the points that you disagree on, you can then replay those points from the side of the court of the disputed points.

For instance, I think that it is 40-15, and you think it is 30-all. We both disagree on who won the first point of the game. We agree on all other points.

We then replay that first point of the game from the deuce side of the court since the first point of the game is played from the deuce side of the court. If I win the disputed point, the score is 40-15, if you win the disputed point, it is 30-all. The next point we play after that would again start from the deuce side of the court since at 40-15 and 30-all, the point is played from the deuce side of the court.

Lawrence L. (from Florida)

Please tell me who is supposed to call two bounces on a return shot?

KAUFMAN: Players call 'not up' (2 bounces) on themselves. If they do not call it on themselves, or their doubles partner does not call it, no one else can make the call.

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

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