Opponents who report the score incorrectly. Why?

B

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
I played in a tournament this past weekend and won my first match 6-1, 6-0. My opponent was sort of obnoxious on the court, often screaming and generally freaking out, but was a pretty nice guy when actually talking to him before and after the match. [This is pretty common amongst tennis players, who can be fairly insufferable during a match, but quite talkative and friendly after a match, even if they lose.]

Anyway, I was completely soaked as it was hot and humid, and I was going to go report the score before I went to my car, but he said "no probem, I'll do it." I thought nothing of it.

The tournament director finally updated the tournament website last night, and I see that my opponent reported the score as 6-2, 6-2.

No, it doesn't matter in the big picture, and I'm not vain enough to actually get the score corrected (a win is a win), but it sort of baffles me.

Seriously, a grown adult is so insecure that he has to add three games to the score just to feel better? I've played tennis for 25 years, won maches 6-0, 6-0, and lost matches 6-0, 6-0, and won and lost matches by every conceivable score in between. It never occurred to me to report the score as anything but what it actually is, even if it was an embarassing blowout.

I know, a pointless rant. Has this happened to anyone else?
 
jc4.0

jc4.0

Professional
No, hasn't happened to me - but if it did I believe I'd call this guy on the telephone or text him and ask him point blank if he really thought that was the score - and if next time, he plans to report that he actually won. It would be interesting to see if he will lie to your face - not that it changes the W, but I think your point would be made. What an insecure idiot.
 
mikeler

mikeler

Moderator
I've had that happen a few times, but it was only a game difference so I just think my opponents made an innocent mistake.
 
B

bodieq

Rookie
Maybe he wanted to add a few games to make it look respectable. Maybe he honestly forgot the score. OR...sometimes scores are reported correctly but the tournament-director at the end of the night inputs scores incorrectly (i.e. they're entering many scores in all divisions on the computer and sometimes get mixed up / typos happen).

But the main point is that since you won the match, you should report the score.
 
R

raiden031

Legend
I know someone who beat an opponent really bad (like 6-1, 6-1) and then intentionally reported the score as something like 6-1, 6-3, in order to lower the risk of getting DQ'd. I think the opposing team/player noticed and objected to it, but he just played it off like it was accidental.
 
K

KSJ1979

New User
raiden031 said:
I know someone who beat an opponent really bad (like 6-1, 6-1) and then intentionally reported the score as something like 6-1, 6-3, in order to lower the risk of getting DQ'd. I think the opposing team/player noticed and objected to it, but he just played it off like it was accidental.
Click to expand...

I have heard similar stories just like this....
 
M

MNPlayer

Semi-Pro
I have accidentally reported scores incorrectly because I simply forgot. I am always acutely aware of whether I won or lost a given set but often cannot remember if it was 6-3 or 6-4. The people I play with don't seem to have this problem to the same degree.

Going from 6-0, 6-1 to 6-2, 6-2 is kind of weird though.
 
Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
I take care to confirm the set score at the end of each set. "OK, that was 6-2, right?"

As a captain, you'd be surprised how often the four players come to me after a match and have a different view of what the score was. It's just an innocent mistake, but someday it's going to really matter . . .
 
J

javierjavier

Rookie
i'd give him the benefit of the doubt. he might of forgot and reported the wrong score, and or the score was just entered incorrectly.

there have been times where i can't remember if i or my opponent won a set 6-4 or 6-3, and i'll just lean the score in their favor.

i'd just make it a habit of confirming the score at the end of every match whether you're reporting or they are.
 
R

RedWeb

Semi-Pro
I've actually had people ask me to report a worse score than what actually happened when I won. They are obviously looking for assistance in avoiding moving up. I politely state that I'd prefer to turn in the actual score.

I would not sweat this for all the reasons that others have mentioned. Whenever I'm in doubt about a score I always error on the side of giving my opponent credit (but you should always strive to get it correct).
 
I

iankogan

Rookie
Last night while waiting for my tourney match I was watching a guy from my USTA team play. He was clearly and blatantly cheated on a line call at match point in the second set, and eventually lost the match 2-6; 7-6(5); 6-4. His opponent then proceeded to report the results with 'corrections' to show a more decisive victory. My teammate called the tourney director and had them to correct the results on tennislink to show the actual score.
 
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M

Moose Malloy

G.O.A.T.
I heard this story a few times when I was playing tournaments when I was a kid.

2 juniors were playing in a tournament, after the match they both report that they won the match. The only ones watching were their parents who of course say their kid won. So the 2 juniors then have to replay the match.
 
A

Annika

Semi-Pro
Better to go over the final scores with everyone who played after the match- before telling the Captain or emailing it in.

When the scores were emailed in and they were wrong, I always corrected them and they were resent. :mad:
 
T

tennis tom

Legend
The guy's a major cheater and committed fraud--no doubt and no benefit of the doubt! You do not forget the score when you lose 0 and 1. It just isn't possible, those are scores that stick in your head very clearly. Your first indication was when he "volunteered" to report the scores. The winner should always report the scores to the tournament desk and returns the balls. I am usually on the losing end of the score in tournaments, but I make myself go to the tournament desk with my opponent, and take my poison and hear those losing scores, often 0 and 0 or 1 and 0. It takes some courage to not hop in my car and slink away.

The other indication was that he acted like a jerk during the match--sports don't build character, they reveal it.

The closest I came to such a situation was when I lost probably 0/0 or 0/1. My opponent felt sorry for me and reported the score 6-4, 6-4 to make it look better for me. I didn't grasp what he was doing and didn't protest. In retrospect I would not let that happen again and regret it.

I would recommend calling the tournament director and having them correct the score and explaining the situation. This guy should be penalized in some fashion like not being allowed to play in tournaments for a year. He is not insecure, someone who is capable of doing something like that is super-secure, so much so that they think they can get away with anything. He's a fraud, a jerk, and a disgrace to the sport of tennis. If he gets away with it this time, next time he'll report it 6-4. 6-4 and maybe after that 6-4.4-6, 6-4. And after that he'll run for political office.

What kind of tournament was this?
 
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Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
We had a situation like this recently.

Both teams had a no-show. A player didn't show for No. 2 singles and a player from the other team didn't show for No. 3 doubles. The captains decided that No. 2 singles should play one of the ladies who did show up for No. 3 doubles.

No. 2 singles won convincingly, giving up just one or two games IIRC. Alas, her team lost the team match so the opposing captain entered the score.

Imagine her surprise when the score for No. 2 singles had her winning by default. Her captain wrote to the league coordinator and it was fixed to reflect the actual score.

I am still puzzled by why the captain did this. Was there confusion about whether they were playing an exhibition match? The scoresheets had the score, so that excuse doesn't fly.

Did the lady who lost simply wish to protect her rating? That didn't make sense either because the losing singles player was a 3.5 and the winner was a 4.0, so that is about the result you'd expect.

Weird.
 
A

Annika

Semi-Pro
I've actually had people ask me to report a worse score than what actually happened when I won. They are obviously looking for assistance in avoiding moving up. I politely state that I'd prefer to turn in the actual score./QUOTE]

That made me feel sick. :mad: I don't want to think that that has happened. (hope you reported him)
Click to expand...
 
8

813wilson

Rookie
Moose Malloy said:
I heard this story a few times when I was playing tournaments when I was a kid.

2 juniors were playing in a tournament, after the match they both report that they won the match. The only ones watching were their parents who of course say their kid won. So the 2 juniors then have to replay the match.
Click to expand...

I'm 2 and 0 against that kid; or is it 0 and 2....:confused:

Seriously, I have scores and reported them backwards - won 6-4, 6-2 when it was the other way around. I've also had scores reported a game off and don't think too much of it.

I do know, once, I was playing in a charity doubles tournament and for no reason I can think of, my partner scored our match as a three set win when we won in straights.....
 
B

bodieq

Rookie
tennis tom said:
The guy's a major cheater and committed fraud--no doubt and no benefit of the doubt! You do not forget the score when you lose 0 and 1. It just isn't possible, those are scores that stick in your head very clearly. Your first indication was when he "volunteered" to report the scores. The winner should always report the scores to the tournament desk and returns the balls. I am usually on the losing end of the score in tournaments, but I make myself go to the tournament desk with my opponent, and take my poison and hear those losing scores, often 0 and 0 or 1 and 0. It takes some courage to not hop in my car and slink away.

The other indication was that he acted like a jerk during the match--sports don't build character, they reveal it.

The closest I came to such a situation was when I lost probably 0/0 or 0/1. My opponent felt sorry for me and reported the score 6-4, 6-4 to make it look better for me. I didn't grasp what he was doing and didn't protest. In retrospect I would not let that happen again and regret it.

I would recommend calling the tournament director and having them correct the score and explaining the situation. This guy should be penalized in some fashion like not being allowed to play in tournaments for a year. He is not insecure, someone who is capable of doing something like that is super-secure, so much so that they think they can get away with anything. He's a fraud, a jerk, and a disgrace to the sport of tennis. If he gets away with it this time, next time he'll report it 6-4. 6-4 and maybe after that 6-4.4-6, 6-4. And after that he'll run for political office.

What kind of tournament was this?
Click to expand...


Those are some harsh comments (and assumptions) you make. Have you ever considered the possibility that the score could've been reported correctly BUT it was the tournament-director that incorrectly entered the scores (accidentally) on computer? I play a lot of USTA tournaments myself (over 20 tournaments per year) and I've seen this happen many times.

Maybe you're correct about this guy being a "cheater"....but all I'm saying is that without knowing exactly what happened, it's probably better to give your opponent the benefit of the doubt before writing him off as a fraud.
 
T

tennis tom

Legend
bodieq said:
Maybe you're correct about this guy being a "cheater"....but all I'm saying is that without knowing exactly what happened, it's probably better to give your opponent the benefit of the doubt before writing him off as a fraud.
Click to expand...

I play a lot of Senior Age Group tournaments since the 45's and now the 60's. Never heard of this happening.

Internet forums are harsh places where you don't get second chances.

Shoulda' ,woulda', coulda'.
 
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