The Final Word: Hitting The Net Post

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...

Rob R. (from Wilmington, DE)

What is the rule when a player makes the call, “I think it’s out,” if challenged by an opponent? A specific example is a player who attacks the net, lunges for a passing shot without successfully volleying the ball and then makes a call of “I think it’s out” on a very close (if not obviously in) ball. When challenged, the player who was passed refuses to reverse the call, despite being unable to definitely say they saw the ball land out. How can this be managed in an unofficiated match if the player making the call refuses to yield? 

KAUFMAN: “I think it was out” indicates doubt. When a player is not certain of a call, the benefit of doubt goes to the opponent, and the ball should be considered good.

Mike

After reading one of your earlier replies about the net post, I am unclear as to the rule. During a normal tennis rally, a ball is permitted to hit the net post, land in the playing area, and play continues. If the ball hits the net post on a serve and lands in the service box, is it ruled a let or a fault? If it is a fault, why has the net post been deemed in play for one part of the game and not in play for another?

KAUFMAN: When the Rules of Tennis was first written, they believed that a serve should not be permitted to do anything but cross the net and land in the opponent’s court and the server should not benefit from a misdirected ball.

Therefore, if a serve hits the post (or singles sticks) during the serve, it is a fault. (Rule 19, Service Fault.)

Once the rally begins, the posts (or singles sticks) are part of the net. If the ball hits the post or singles sticks during a rally and lands into the proper court, the ball is still in play. If singles sticks are in proper position and the ball strikes the net post outside the singles sticks, the ball is out of play.

Carol (from California)

I have two questions:
 
1. If you cannot hear the server call the score out, and he/she serves without you hearing it, can you tell him/her, “Wait, I didn't hear you say the score,” if you tap the ball to put the ball out of play? Can you ask the server to repeat the score when you clearly didn't hear it being said?
2. Second, in an adult or junior match, if an opponent’s family cheers loud and frequently, and it bothers the other player, can you say anything?

KAUFMAN:

1. If the point has not begun and you hold up play to ask the server the score, that is permitted. If the point begins, you must finish that point and then ask.
2. If a referee or official in charge sees any situation with over-enthusiastic fans that they feel hinders the players from playing or bothers the players, they may tell fans to control themselves or leave the area.

Mary (from Nebraska)

While playing doubles in a court covered with a bubble, my opponent hit a high lob. I backed up, let it bounce and reached up and hit it right before it hit the bubble at the back of the court. My opponent claimed the point, saying the ball had hit the bubble. I didn't think it did. Whose call is it?

KAUFMAN: If the ball hits the bubble before you strike the ball, you make the call.

See Making Calls: #20 in “The Code” in the Friend at Court.

Clay M.

In a doubles match, the ball floated and landed right beside the net post but inside the court. The opposing player rushed up to the net and hit the ball back into our court. He proceeded to go into the net and actually touched the net and my partner. My partner immediately called our point, but the opponent stated that it was his call to make. Who is right?

KAUFMAN: It is the opponent’s call to make if he/she touches the net or your partner. Again, see the above citation in “The Code.”

Kent W. (from Indialantic, FL)

Recently you posted the following question and answer:

Susan A. (from Columbia, SC)

During a singles match, my opponent called the score wrong (in my favor) while she was starting her serve. I hit the return into the net. She looked at me like she was expecting me to call the serve long. I did not see it long. I barely saw it at all because I was thinking about the score. I gave her the point and corrected her on the score. Could I have called a let because her score error totally distracted me? 

KAUFMAN:  Any serious attempt to return any serve forfeits your claim you were not ready. Once you started the point, that point must be completed. You then should discuss the score issue after the point has ended.

This issue should be covered more thoroughly. I know a tournament player who will call the score incorrectly just as he is tossing a second-serve toss. He does this when he's down in a game. When you stop him and correct him before he makes contact, he then demands two serves because you interrupted him during his second-service motion. How should this situation be handled? (So many questions people have about the rules is because the rules are too vague and not definitive enough. A complete rule rewriting is long overdue.)

KAUFMAN: A player should not announce the score during a service motion. Why he would be making any such score announcement on a second serve is beyond me. Deny the request for the first serve in this instance. Such an act during the service motion could be deemed a hindrance to the receiver. Make the server stop from doing that and have him announce the score well before the service motion begins.

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