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.
USTA Director of Officials, Richard Kaufman, is here to answer your questions. Each week, he will select a few submissions and supply the definitive rulings through a Q&A.
Have a question of your own? Click here to submit your question to The Final Word.
* Please note, due to the volume of emails Rich receives, he is not able to answer every email.
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Subject: Challenges
How many times during a singles match can a player challenge a line call made against him/her? Thanks. Tom
KAUFMAN: A player (team) is given 3 incorrect challenges per set with an additional challenge added during a tiebreak.
Correct Challenges do not count against a player (team).
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Subject: Playing on Clay
When playing on clay, ball marks seem to make line calls fairly easy. But in the following situation, I have not been able to get a definitive answer.
Consider a hard hit flat serve. As the ball hits the court, the bottom of the ball hits beyond the service line (out?) but as the ball compresses and distorts, it leaves an oval ball mark with the back portion showing very slight overlap on the line (in?). Is the ball out when it first hits the surface, or is it in when it compresses onto the line?
I have heard this point argued and even heard John McEnroe look at high speed video image of the above situation and comment that the ball was clearly out, and he wasn't even playing!! Has this been addressed in the rules of tennis?
Thanks.
Ed
KAUFMAN: As you point out, the mark is not really a "true" indicator of where the ball actually landed. It is close but not totally accurate.
However, players and officials all agree to go by the mark and what it shows. It is a consistent procedure and fair to both sides of the court.
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Subject: Volleys
In a doubles match my racket came out of my hand while hitting a volley. The volley went in and the opponent did not return the shot. On the follow through my racquet came out of my hand and hit the net. Whose point is it? I think it is the opponent’s point as the racquet hit the net.
Thanks.
Nancy
KAUFMAN: As long as the ball had bounced twice or hit a permanent fixture (fence, chair, etc.) before your racket hit the net, you would win the point.
If you hit a winner and the racket immediately hit the net before two bounces or before hitting a permanent fixture, you would lose the point, even if it was a winner.