Doubles opponent hugging the net and complaining about getting hit

[GodlessEndeavor]

Yes. That's what I was gonna ask OP. Is he any good? If not, he should back off.

He's a good player. He has a fast serve + can smash volleys from the net, also swings hard on groundstrokes.

Since people mentioned age, I believe he's younger than me. I'm 40 and I'm guessing he's in his late 20s or 30s, though I'm not very good at guessing people's ages.

I think what caught him by surprise in this case was that even though I just did a backhand slice, the ball went quite fast at him because I was reflecting the pace from his partner's powerful shot.

 

[chic]

He's a good player. He has a fast serve + can smash volleys from the net, also swings hard on groundstrokes.

Since people mentioned age, I believe he's younger than me. I'm 40 and I'm guessing he's in his late 20s or 30s, though I'm not very good at guessing people's ages.

I think what caught him by surprise in this case was that even though I just did a backhand slice, the ball went quite fast at him because I was reflecting the pace from his partner's powerful shot.

Oh yeah he is just a crybaby or doing some gamesmanship then.
Imo deserves to be targeted in the future haha

 

[Dartagnan64]

i shank my overheads into the back fence, more often than i like to admit... don't intend to hurt anyone, and usually don't hit anyone when i do, but it happens... and definitely happens alot more at the intermediate/beginner levels.
"fh lasers from NML"... when i'm playing good doubles players, or when i'm playing well at net,... i am absolutely hitting&getting balls hit at me at full RIP, aimed usually/ideally at my right hip.... sometimes it goes higher than I or my partner want...
if you're not comfortable getting those shots at you, accidental or otherwise, DO NOT COME TO NET.

that said, if it's a social game, or if net person is not very good, and clearly can't defend/protect themselves, i won't go at them when i get a sitter... but if they are actively poaching at net (as they should be IF they were good at net), they need to expect to get hit from time to time.

when i'm playing folks that are hitting a bit faster than i'm used to or if my partner's serve sucks and i'm constantly getting hit... i move back.

side note i've been hit plenty of times... usually in the posterior chain (back, hamstrings, calves) as i turn away... .had my glasses knocked off (glancing blow from racquet), and have been hit clean in the back of the head off a rec-level overhead... stung (but compared to getting hit in the head pointblank&knocked out by a soccerball while in goal... no comparision)

When I play good doubles players they win points without ever coming near their opponent. They’ll go over my head with topspin, angle a dying slice into the opposite forecourt or something like that.

It’s usually the 3.5 basher with poor control that comes at me. With that no spin laser beam that would never land in if the court was twice as long. It’s head hunting plain and simple. Legal yes, sportsmanlike no.

And everybody at my level bails on a sitter. You expect to be hit.

 

[Ronaldo]

Posted this before. Pro at a Pro-Am round robin crushes a fearhand at the net man. Impales the stem of his glasses into the victim's temple. Blood flows. Like sand in an hourglass, this was a day in the life of The Crusher!

 

[nyta2]

When I play good doubles players they win points without ever coming near their opponent. They’ll go over my head with topspin, angle a dying slice into the opposite forecourt or something like that.

It’s usually the 3.5 basher with poor control that comes at me. With that no spin laser beam that would never land in if the court was twice as long. It’s head hunting plain and simple. Legal yes, sportsmanlike no.

And everybody at my level bails on a sitter. You expect to be hit.

good players will def have more control... eg. aim for gaps, or at worst aim for your feet, and you get hit on the bounce... when i aim at a person at net, it isn't malicious (usually), in my mind, it's a two way shot... if i hit it well, i jammed you, if hit a bit too high, there's still a chance you reach out to touch it (or can't get out of the way)... i particularly run into this alot in mixed... when my partner has a powder puff serve, and i'm poaching alot, the guy will often riip it at my chest... you know, to keep me honest (from poaching).

while it's always good to play opponents that are looking out for your safety, you'll always run into folks that aren't skilled enough or not cautious enough, so need to presume you're being targeted at net... learn to duck under the net, hide behind the racquet and cover the jewels, and/or turn away. if worry too much about getting hit, don't go to the net.

 

[ratherlosethanpush]

He's a good player. He has a fast serve + can smash volleys from the net, also swings hard on groundstrokes.

Since people mentioned age, I believe he's younger than me. I'm 40 and I'm guessing he's in his late 20s or 30s, though I'm not very good at guessing people's ages.

I think what caught him by surprise in this case was that even though I just did a backhand slice, the ball went quite fast at him because I was reflecting the pace from his partner's powerful shot.

Totally unsporting of them to stand in a position where they are unable to defend themselves from legitimate shots struck with the intention of landing in the court.

Unbalanced teams are usually the culprits of such a tactic designed to get you to play to the stronger player or not commit fully to a shot with the weaker one only having easy dunks.

If you find yourself stuck there players usually turn their back and give up the point a la djokovic vs the unsporting norrie who then should have used the space.

I'd argue trying to tag someone when hitting a shot designed to hit the opponent and not land in the court is unsporting but legal. I wouldn't complain about it, but wouldn't do it. Lendl and tsitsipas possibly push this.

 

[am1899]

Sometimes the best option is through your opponent. They may not like it. But it’s not unsportsmanlike. It’s part of the game.

Now, this is unsportsmanlike. But, if you recall the match, there was a context for it.

 

[thelimfactor]

Stepanek was at the baseline... and was slow to react. His issue. Gonzales was just putting the ball away.

 

[Roforot]

Berdych thinking this is soccer and flopping after getting hit in the arm then realizes there's no yellow card and walks it off.
As for Stepanek, I don't think it was a dirty play. Most times I think Stepanek would have gotten the ball back in play; he was just wrong footed.

 

[Yamin]

This is why I don't play low level doubles, mixed, or with those older guys that are pretty decent at doubles but have awful attitudes. Have to hold back all my strokes otherwise it's legit dangerous due to their positioning and reaction time. I usually ask my opponent if they're sure they want to stand there to try and avoid issues.

In casual tennis a simple sorry should be enough to move on but realistically if they're 4.0 at least there's no excuse to get angry over it IMO.

 

[am1899]

Man, Lendl would be proud of you guys.

Don’t get me wrong, I love what Gonzo did there. Hilarious! Sportsmanlike? Not anymore than Stepanek holding Gonzo’s serve up. So I guess they were even after that?

Bird man is more typical of situations where people have given me crap…stupidly closing the net after coughing up a meatball sitter to me. Sorry, I am not trying a lob from the service line because of your stupidity.

 

[Pspielha]

Anyone who crowds the net in an attempt to cut of angles/be in a position to block back any shots for winners simply by getting a racquet on it is asking to have their reflexes tested. They want free points for just standing there. Send them a few screamers and see how they handle it.

 

[Jono123]

I enjoy when my opponents crowd the net especially if their other player is at the baseline.

This opens up dead space right behind them for an easy and unreturnable diagonal volley.

 

[DropvolleysRhard]

I prefer to go through vs over or around

 

[Ronaldo]

I prefer to go through vs over or around

Done that and reminded that you are playing with old men with bad vision. Mentioned I am well aware of this by their calls. And we play on clay!