WHAT'S THE CALL?
Who calls double hits?
January 11, 2017

Have you ever had a dispute with a fellow player over a call on the court that you couldn’t settle? Maybe you’re just curious about how some scenarios, from the common to the ridiculous, are resolved.
Question: My opponent hit the ball hard at me, and I returned it, but he claimed that I hit the ball twice, even though it felt more like a carry to me, which has been legal for a long time now. My partner said that I hit it in one continuous motion, which seems to be the key difference between a legal and illegal hit. What is the correct ruling on this?
Answer: You are correct. If it was one continuous motion, without a second intentional swing or push, then it is a legal shot even if it hit your racquet twice in the one swing. It is also your call to make and not your opponent's.
**
For the "Friend at Court" handbook and more information on the rules of tennis, visit the rules and regulations homepage.