Honestly, what do you think of this behavior?

[Desperate Tennis Wife]

Today our Women's 3.5 league played the #1 undefeated team in our league. Though we didn't think we had much chance of winning we were excited about the challenge. I had my strong, very confident hard hitter playing #1 doubles. As I was taking a break after splitting sets she came off the court in tears. She had been hit 5 times near the chest by her opponent. She made a comment to the opponent to the effect that she was being aimed at when they had plenty of court to hit in. The opponent said "Blame your partner, she keeps hitting me floaters and I am hitting the winning shot". Then when our team hit one at their feet they said "WHAAAA WHAAA she hit one at me!"

[raiden031]

I think it is unsportsmanlike to aim for an opponents body, but since its not breaking any rules, there isnt much you can do about it. I cant help but think its her own fault for getting hit that many times though by not playing in a better position to avoid it. If its her partners fault for hitting weak shots, then she should adjust and not be a target for them.

[saram]

She should crank one at her partner to wake them up and let them realize what in the heck is going on. Her partner's learning curve truly sucks.

While I do not approve of hitting at someone at the net--the partner really needs to adjust their game or the woman that is always getting hit needs to get off the net.

[Desperate Tennis Wife]

I tend to agree that our player should have taken a defensive position and moved to the base line. Her partner was not hitting the floaters on pupose I am sure as I have played with her and she has great shots with pace and depth. I probably would have taken the defensive position after the 2nd hit.

[tailofdog]

I usually find that people who do something that is unsporting scream the loudest when the same thing is done to them. The lady getting hit needs to adjust her court position. Her partner i am guessing is hitting shor lobs. If it is a problem she might have to be moved to a lower team or it might be suggested she not lob until she gets lessons on how to hit a reasonable lob.

[MariaS]

Isn't it her partner's fault that she's being hit? Like her opponent said, her partner keeps hitting floaters. So of course they're going to hit winners in her general direction.

Get another partner! JK

[LuckyR]

The commentary about them being undefeated and #1 in league and not feeling you guys had a chance against them, all points to an unspoken assumption that this team was so good that they are in another, higher level of tennis skill and therefore should be very sportsmanlike, as a player playing a beginner would be.

I'm not buying it. If they are in your league, they are to play aggressively and try their hardest to win, you really should not want them to play any other way.

[shell]

This really sounds like two different levels of tennis. The partner hitting floaters certainly doesn't help, but a player at the net really shouldn't be hit in the chest too often. There are some defensive skills and positioning skills that seem to be missing. Equally matched teams at the same skill level don't usually have this problem.

Although I would have to say that I rarely hit someone in the chest - the feet or knees maybe. They almost sound like they were taking shots at her - which is not very good sportsmanship, even if not breaking the rules.

[the-robz]

Tell her to stand back. She is forcing it in a way on herself.

[darkhorse]

This is where there seems to be a big differences between men's and women's tennis. I don't think this would be a huge issue in a men's league (some may take offense to it, but not get really upset), but women seem to take this kind of thing more personally. I'm not sure why, exactly, but that seems to be the case.

[randomname]

I really dont understand how its even possible for your player to get pegged 5 times, does she have the reflexes of a drunk person? 3.5 women dont hit the ball that hard, if your lady was just leaning over the net and her partner is giving up sitters then she should have a few taken at her, I would

[saram]

Whenever I get hit at the net and the opponent apologizes, I simply tell them one thing:

"No worries...that's the right shot."

[tenis]

saram is right!!!

[catfish]

Anyone who "comes off the court in tears" needs to go back to elementary school. A grown woman crying in a tennis match because she got hit should be embarassed. When I get hit I feel like it's my fault and not the opponents. It usually means that I'm not paying attention. In my observation of 3.5 women's league tennis, no one has pinpoint accuracy. Frankly, I don't know many 4.5's or 5.0's who can just aim at a person/target and hit them at will. Even if the opponents were trying to hit her I doubt if they could do it over and over again. It sounds like they didn't have much control and the woman just let herself get hit rather than moving. I also think she needs to work on her mental game if she falls apart that easily. Maybe the opponents were unsportsmanlike and trying to hit her. Whatever the case she should not have let them get to her like that. Their sarcastic remarks were rude, but she should ignore that type of bahavior.

Can you imagine what would happen in a mens match if a man "came off the court in tears". Geez, he'd have to move to a new city to escape the shame.

[TennisProdigy]

Lol get hit by the ball not once but five times... get some reflexes. It is the right shot to aim to the opponent in certain situations.

In singles if the oppenent approaches and hits the ball down the center I will aim the ball right back down the center with as much pace and as low as I can get it. This is the right shot since the net is lowest in the middle giving me the most margin for error, if it hits him in the lower/middle section too bad and if he returns it I may aim another at him or hit a passing shot if I feel I will make it.

[user92626]

I think some comments are unnecessarily harsh on the woman player who's got hit 5 times. Comon, if you're not playing at the professional level, you're playing for fun, to pass time. So, it's way off to play like an *****. In fact if you're playing like that you're just exercising your aholeness and nothing more.

DTW, I think if you're quick with words you can call out their behaviors. At certain point you just have to accept the ugly reality and move on.

Good luck.

[randomname]

Originally Posted by user92626

I think some comments are unnecessarily harsh on the woman player who's got hit 5 times. Comon, if you're not playing at the professional level, you're playing for fun, to pass time. So, it's way off to play like an *****. In fact if you're playing like that you're just exercising your aholeness and nothing more.

DTW, I think if you're quick with words you can call out their behaviors. At certain point you just have to accept the ugly reality and move on.

Good luck.

I think everyone understands that we're all just playing for fun, but to alot of people there isnt anything wrong with aiming for your opponent, its a very legitimate strategy if they are crowding the net and its not like getting hit hurts (well, for in most areas) and alot of people dont see aiming at a person as unsportsman-like, its just part of the game, nobody complains about getting tackled in football because its part of the game. But like I said before, at the 3.5 level, its probably the woman getting pegged's fault, if her partner is giving up weak sitters she shouldnt be crowding the net, and if she isnt crowding the net then she really doesnt have any excuse, no 3.5 woman hits hard enough for you to not be able to get out of the way or block the ball with your racquet if your standing back on the service line

[Thud and blunder]

Originally Posted by randomname

I really dont understand how its even possible for your player to get pegged 5 times, does she have the reflexes of a drunk person? 3.5 women dont hit the ball that hard, if your lady was just leaning over the net and her partner is giving up sitters then she should have a few taken at her, I would

I thinkthis sounds about right. If your partner puts up a weak sitter, give up the point, turn your back, move towards the trams. Sounds like your player was just standing there with the blase assumption that opps would have to try to find a way to hit round her. That's ridiculous.

[Cindysphinx]

The most I've been pegged in a mixed match was once (out of four attempts) by the 4.0 guy. The other three I dodged.

Yeah, if you can't get out of the way of a 3.5 woman's overhead or high volley, you're pretty slow. She should simply have played the baseline or no-man's land until a floater came her way. Or turn sideways or bail out. If they hit her then, that's not cool. Just standing there is essentially contesting the shot.

[OrangeOne]

Sorry, if you stand at the net in tennis, well, you take the good with the bad, and you learn how to play properly while you're there.

I completely do not understand how people who are completely happy hitting volleys for winners at the net equally get upset when one (or a few) clips them....