Tennis Rules and “The Code” – 2019 Q3
When the professionals play tennis, the chair umpire and lines people officiate the match using the official rules of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), of which the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is a member. The ITF rules can be found here. The USTA has its own handbook.
But when we play for fun or even competitively, we don’t have officials to help us. Therefore, we should follow “The Code” to ensure that we are playing fairly.
Question: In a recent USTA singles match, I served a first serve that looked well out to me. My opponent returned the serve and I caught the ball calling it “out” as I did so. My opponent claimed the point, saying it was his call alone and the ball was in. I replied that it was only ethical that I call the serve out. What’s the right call on this one?
Answer: The Code is clear on this issue. Number 13 states, “a player should call out the player’s own shots if the player clearly sees the ball out, regardless of whether requested to do so by the opponent.” However, it also states, “with the exception of the first serve.” Calling your first serve out can be a disadvantage to your opponent, who may have given you the benefit of the doubt and returned a serve that was out, but very close to the line, and may have won the point.
Question: Midway through a doubles match my partner raised a question as to the height of the net. We had not checked it prior to the match and assumed it was set at the proper height, 36”. When we measured it, we found it to be low by almost an inch. Our opponents thought it fair to finish the match without adjusting the net. I thought it should be corrected, which after much discussion we did. What should we have done?
Answer: The height of the net is specified in Rule 1, as 36” high at the center strap. Correcting errors as soon as they are discovered is the general guidance in tennis, be it the score, service order or the height of the net. Correcting the net height at the end of that game may have been the fairest way to do it.
