StringingIrvine
Semi-Pro
If I think there is a questionable call I usually won't challenge them or make a big scene. A questionable bad call here or there, no big deal. We are all human, and what I see might not be what you see.
During my semi finals match I played someone and he started making questionable calls the first game! The balls he was calling out were not even on the line. I hit a volley that may have been 4-5 inches inside, yet the call was out. My response to each call would be a very nice "was that ball out" he would replied, "yes" or "it was out"
By the time I was serving at 3-2 he had made another bad call on a backhand pass. This was the 6th bad call out of only playing 5 games. I said "I'm sorry (his name), but I’m going to have to get a line ref. Some of the calls you are making are not questionable from what i'm seeing" This was said in a very calm voice.
He seemed offended and responded "hey man, I’m the type of guy that if the ball is in and i call it out, just tell me. I'll give you the point. If i make a bad call tell me and i'll give you the point. Thats the type of guy I am. "
It was quite funny how mad he got after i said i was going to get a ref. I responded with "(his name) you are calling balls that aren't even on the line. I always give my opponents the benefit of the doubt but you've made 6 questionable calls and we've only played 5 games"
His response was classic "I’m sorry but sometimes i can't see the ball. When I’m running I’m not always looking at the ball. Sometimes I call it before the ball bounces"
I told him that’s exactly why i want a line ref. I don't want to have to watch his lines and my lines. Its not my job to correct his calls. I paid a tournament fee and I have a right to get a third party ref.
Long story short I got lazy and he gave me the point and we continued to play. Near the end of our first set the next court had just finished and was walking back to the clubhouse, I asked them to get a line judge.
By the time the judge got to our courts it was 1-0 in the second set. My opponent was furious that the game was being watched. He asked why I called the judge now, I already won the first set. I told him "I could be up 5-0 or down 0-5 i'd still call the judge regardless of the score. It is not my job to correct your line calls. The fact you admitted to not seeing the ball and calling the ball before it bounces makes me question all of your calls." The judge commented that he needed to wait for the ball to bounce before making the call and He would only be there for 3 games unless he noticed inconsistencies.
He stayed the entire second set which I won 6-0. The judge only overturn calls that are contested. I only contested 3 calls and the judge overturned all 3. I'd imagine there were a lot of other bad callls but it was close enough I still gave him the benefit of the doubt.
The fact he still made bad line calls with the ref there might indicate he might have really bad eyes. If you can't clearly see it bounce out you should not call it out.
My worst USTA tournament experience. I won 6-3, 6-0 but still my worst usta experience.
During my semi finals match I played someone and he started making questionable calls the first game! The balls he was calling out were not even on the line. I hit a volley that may have been 4-5 inches inside, yet the call was out. My response to each call would be a very nice "was that ball out" he would replied, "yes" or "it was out"
By the time I was serving at 3-2 he had made another bad call on a backhand pass. This was the 6th bad call out of only playing 5 games. I said "I'm sorry (his name), but I’m going to have to get a line ref. Some of the calls you are making are not questionable from what i'm seeing" This was said in a very calm voice.
He seemed offended and responded "hey man, I’m the type of guy that if the ball is in and i call it out, just tell me. I'll give you the point. If i make a bad call tell me and i'll give you the point. Thats the type of guy I am. "
It was quite funny how mad he got after i said i was going to get a ref. I responded with "(his name) you are calling balls that aren't even on the line. I always give my opponents the benefit of the doubt but you've made 6 questionable calls and we've only played 5 games"
His response was classic "I’m sorry but sometimes i can't see the ball. When I’m running I’m not always looking at the ball. Sometimes I call it before the ball bounces"
I told him that’s exactly why i want a line ref. I don't want to have to watch his lines and my lines. Its not my job to correct his calls. I paid a tournament fee and I have a right to get a third party ref.
Long story short I got lazy and he gave me the point and we continued to play. Near the end of our first set the next court had just finished and was walking back to the clubhouse, I asked them to get a line judge.
By the time the judge got to our courts it was 1-0 in the second set. My opponent was furious that the game was being watched. He asked why I called the judge now, I already won the first set. I told him "I could be up 5-0 or down 0-5 i'd still call the judge regardless of the score. It is not my job to correct your line calls. The fact you admitted to not seeing the ball and calling the ball before it bounces makes me question all of your calls." The judge commented that he needed to wait for the ball to bounce before making the call and He would only be there for 3 games unless he noticed inconsistencies.
He stayed the entire second set which I won 6-0. The judge only overturn calls that are contested. I only contested 3 calls and the judge overturned all 3. I'd imagine there were a lot of other bad callls but it was close enough I still gave him the benefit of the doubt.
The fact he still made bad line calls with the ref there might indicate he might have really bad eyes. If you can't clearly see it bounce out you should not call it out.
My worst USTA tournament experience. I won 6-3, 6-0 but still my worst usta experience.
Last edited:
