What would YOU do?

My main concern is why did the official give you the option of taking the penalty or not? The lateness penalty is a firm rule and should just be assessed by the tournament referee. If you get to the court and decide to not accept the penalty, so be it, but the referee should not be giving the option of accepting the penalty.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by Xisbum

the USTA official said his team would incur a 1-game penalty and loss of the coin toss to determine who served, etc. Then he turned to us and said "Do you wish to accept these penalties on your opponents?"

Question is, what would you have done in that situation? Just curious.

I would told the official that I would like to decide later in the match what to do.

[Xisbum]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

My main concern is why did the official give you the option of taking the penalty or not? The lateness penalty is a firm rule and should just be assessed by the tournament referee. If you get to the court and decide to not accept the penalty, so be it, but the referee should not be giving the option of accepting the penalty.

We were on the court; he put us on because the other guy who was there said his partner was just a couple of minutes away.

Hey, I was shocked that we got a choice, since I, like you, thought that was a firm rule for lateness. Five more minutes and the official would have called a forfeit, I think, which would have to be an irrevocable decision. Am I right on that one?

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by r2473

I would told the official that I would like to decide later in the match what to do.

:snicker:

Or you could have asked for an opportunity to call your attorney.

[Xisbum]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

:snicker:

Or you could have asked for an opportunity to call your attorney.

Which would be you. After following your amazing posting career here on TW, I would want no one else to plead my case before the court of tennis justice.

Originally Posted by Xisbum

We were on the court; he put us on because the other guy who was there said his partner was just a couple of minutes away.

Hey, I was shocked that we got a choice, since I, like you, thought that was a firm rule for lateness. Five more minutes and the official would have called a forfeit, I think, which would have to be an irrevocable decision. Am I right on that one?

Yes

0-5 minutes late, loss of toss and 1 game
5:01-10 minutes late, loss of toss and 2 games
10:01-15 minutes late, loss of toss and 3 games

15:01 or more, DEFAULT.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Xisbum

Which would be you. After following your amazing posting career here on TW, I would want no one else to plead my case before the court of tennis justice.

Ha! I would sell you out for a cold bottle of Gatorade.

[MayDay]

Since we're not playing for money, how about making some additional "house rules" like... ...if you are late, down one bottle of beer right before the match? (or a shot of something)

Hmm... ...maybe people would deliberately be late for the beer.

[cll30]

About 2 years ago I had an 8:30 am tournament singles match in a town about 35 miles from my home. I got there a little early and warmed up but my opponent did not show so I was given a default. My opponent finally showed up about 2 and a half hours later without any excuse, and the tournament director asked me if I wanted to go ahead and play the match then. I just gave her kind of a funny look and said No!

While I did sign up for the tournament to play some matches, I considered my opponent's behavior disrespectful to me and to the sport of tennis and was not about to reward that kind irresponsibility.