Lights out service game

jacob22

Professional
Just played my first USTA 3.5 men's league match last week on the #1 singles court. First set, I served better than I usually do, getting my hard flat first serve in at a relatively high percentage, often unreturned. Won the first set 7-5. Second set, my first serve percentage dropped. In the middle of my service game, down 2-3, the overhead lights in the adjacent court turns off. At my club, the lights on the indoor courts are motion-activated.

Is it reasonable to call a let for this distraction?

I didn't say anything. I lost the point. Ran over to get the lights to activate and ended up losing the game and the set. During the match tiebreak, the lights went out again before his serve. I offered to activate them again, he declined. Ended up winning 10-2 in the tiebreak on a net cord. :D
 

dgold44

G.O.A.T.
Just played my first USTA 3.5 men's league match last week on the #1 singles court. First set, I served better than I usually do, getting my hard flat first serve in at a relatively high percentage, often unreturned. Won the first set 7-5. Second set, my first serve percentage dropped. In the middle of my service game, down 2-3, the overhead lights in the adjacent court turns off. At my club, the lights on the indoor courts are motion-activated.

Is it reasonable to call a let for this distraction?

I didn't say anything. I lost the point. Ran over to get the lights to activate and ended up losing the game and the set. During the match tiebreak, the lights went out again before his serve. I offered to activate them again, he declined. Ended up winning 10-2 in the tiebreak on a net cord. :D

That is how things often happen in USTA 2 set and TB matches.
Very odd matches.
 

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Normally no, but if this point is discussed by the captains pre-match and they all agree that a Let should be called, then that's a local addendum to the rules.
 

Max G.

Legend
Seems reasonable to call a let for that. I mean, if those lights help you see better on court, and then they go off, seems fair to call a let immediately and turn them back on and replay the point. It's not something that happens all the time so it's not like you're interrupting a point each service game or something.

As with all lets, you have to call it immediately though. Can't take a swing or two and then decide you know what, better not to finish this point.
 

MisterP

Hall of Fame
I'd give you a let for that. And as the returner, I'd request another first serve unless it was an obvious ace.
 

SGM1980

Rookie
Seems reasonable, but probably not the worst idea to cover it before you start playing.

"Just FYI, the lights are motion activated and will turn off randomly in the middle of our points every so often. Are you okay calling a let when they do that? I wanted to check with you ahead of time."

That way everyone is on the same page.
 
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