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The Final Word: Court Lines

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...

Yesterday I was playing doubles and serving. My first serve hit the net and I thought it rolled to a stop. It did not, but I threw my second ball up to hit it anyway at which point the opposing side said “stop.” Once the ball stopped rolling, I asked for two serves, as they stopped me in the middle of serving. They would not give it to me as it was my serve that was rolling. It was on our side of the net, so it was not impeding them.

It was just a friendly game, but we wanted to clarify in case it came up on League play.

Libby T. (from Kailua, HI)

If you had waited for the ball to stop moving, and then started your motion and THEN your opponents stopped you, you would have a case for a first serve. However the ball was still rolling. Your opponents were not certain where that ball was going to settle. You started your motion before clearing the ball or waiting for it to stop or move off of the court. They had a right to stop you and not give you a first serve in this case.

I was a spectator at a match played on a court which had numerous courts side by side with no fences between the courts. A player hit an overhead at a sharp angle that bounced in the doubles alley for a winner then took a high bounce over the adjacent court. The player who hit the overhead touched the net when the ball was still in play but it was in mid-flight over the adjacent court. Is the point over when the ball passes over the spot of where the fence would be if each court had a fence around it or is the point over when the ball actually hits the permanent fixture no matter where it is?

Ron C. (from Georgia)

Revised answer: If you are asking if a player touches the net before the ball hits a permanent fixture or bounces twice, then YES, that player loses the point.
If the court has a fence, then the fence is a permanent fixture. There is no imaginary line where boundaries may be if there is no fence.

Can a tennis court that is used in USTA tournaments have other lines painted on the courts besides the lines for tennis? The other lines would be used for other activities when the court is not being used for official tennis matches.

Larry (from Maine)

KAUFMAN: It is not ideal however there are events in areas that may have limited access to courts. Depending upon how many lines are on the court and the visibility of the lines will determine if the court is fit for play.

If a server addresses the line, and the receiver addresses the line, and then the server instead of bouncing the ball and performing the toss and serving normally…. stares at you intently for 15 to 20 seconds until he sees you relax or otherwise lose interest… and then proceeds to serve immediately, Is that legal?

John D.

KAUFMAN: If the wait is too long, the receiver may indicate they're not ready by holding up their hand and backing off. Cat and mouse games in these instances can become complicated and aggravating. Just remember, the server cannot serve until the receiver is ready and the server and receiver must make certain that play is continuous.

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