Opponent thought serve was out but no one called it

[EddieBrock]

In my 4.0 doubles league match the opponent hit a serve down the T that was close, but I couldn't tell so I played it and hit a solid return winner. Immediately after my partner and I start changing return positions, but the server says something like "wasn't my serve out?" and my partner says "I didn't call it or see if very well, but I guess so" and the server then goes to hit a 2nd serve.

What should I have done?

I'm extremely bad at line calls, but to me it seemed close enough that I thought it was in towards the back of the line. Isn't the rule that unless the ball is called out you should play it?

Once my partner gave his sheepish "I guess so" is that the same as agreeing the ball was in? If it was clearly out I'd think my partner would have called it.

Obviously I can't do anything about it now, but what's the rule?

 

[mpnv1990]

They lost the point. They have to assume that the ball is in if it’s not called out.

 

[tennis3]

but what's the rule?

Pretty simple:

Receiver:

• On close serves, take a whack at it
• If you hit a winner, say nothing, take the point
• If you miss, call the serve long

Server:

• Exact opposite of above
• Receiver makes good return, say serve was out (stop play)
• Receiver makes bad return, say ball was in
• Receiver calls ball out, say serve was in

 

[socallefty]

Once my partner gave his sheepish "I guess so" is that the same as agreeing the ball was in? If it was clearly out I'd think my partner would have called it.

Sounds like your partner agreed it was out and changed his in call to a fault call. So, they get a 2nd serve.

 

[silentkman]

Pretty simple:

Receiver:

• On close serves, take a whack at it
• If you hit a winner, say nothing, take the point
• If you miss, call the serve long

Server:

• Exact opposite of above
• Receiver makes good return, say serve was out (stop play)
• Receiver makes bad return, say ball was in
• Receiver calls ball out, say serve was in

No and No

 

[esgee48]

Server cannot call 1st serve in or out. This also applies to team. Server can call 2nd serve out. Since neither you nor your partner called the 1st serve out, server should assume serve is good. If close, and you played it as good, then you’re playing according to the code. If the ball was 12” out and you played it, then your opponents have a right to complain; but that’s not what you said. Your partner should be calling the service line parallel to the net and you call the line vertical to the net.

Your opponents can complain about your good call, but will they also complain if they thought the ball was in and it was called out?

 

[mpnv1990]

Server cannot call 1st serve in or out. This also applies to team. Server can call 2nd serve out. Since neither you nor your partner called the 1st serve out, server should assume serve is good. If close, and you played it as good, then you’re playing according to the code. If the ball was 12” out and you played it, then your opponents have a right to complain; but that’s not what you said. Your partner should be calling the service line parallel to the net and you call the line vertical to the net.

Your opponents can complain about your good call, but will they also complain if they thought the ball was in and it was called out?

What is the rationale for not being able to call your first serve out?

 

[NumbersGuy]

What is the rationale for not being able to call your first serve out?

Because an unscrupulous server might do so after his opponent hits a winner return. Basically OP's scenario but unscrupulously.

 

[Pass750]

When in doubt ball is in, you did what you were supposed to do. Opponent shouldn’t have stopped playing, this is his problem. Your point, end of story. Your partner not seeing it is irrelevant.

Now if the serve was a foot out, your opponent would have something to complain about. We were playing yesterday, my partner hit a serve a foot out, opponent played it but I called it out right away. Goal is to get call right, I guess they could have complained I don’t have the right to make the call, but it is rec tennis, there has to be some common sense and cooperation in calls.

PS. Looks like from an old thread this is at least the second time this has happened to you.

 

[a10best]

Sometimes the receivers are unsure if it was in our out and just play the point. Not necessarily cheating. Could be bad eyesight from too much smartphone or computer viewing.

I had this happen to me in a league match. I served and knew my 1st serve was a good half foot behind the service box line. receiver hits the ball back in play. I don't even go after the ball b/c I knew it was out. He said nothing, neither did I. So, I then proceeded to hit a second serve and we continue play. It's an odd situation but it happens when the receiver is hesitant due to the server having a nice serve which at times can be difficult to accurately call out.

 

[sovertennis]

Second serve for your opponent b/c your partner made the moronic response of "I guess so" when the server complained. (If your partner was unable to give a definitive "yes, it was out" in a timely manner then he should have confirmed that the serve was indeed "in" and the point would have been yours).

 

[Icsa]

I've seen cases with first serve obviously out, 1 foot or more out:
1. 3 people on the court stop playing
2. server begins to setup for second serve
3. returner takes a whack at the ball and claims he won the point because he didn't call the serve out

That is why USTA games without refs suck.

 

[johnmccabe]

No and No

it's sarcastic

 

[nyta2]

Pretty simple:

Receiver:

• On close serves, take a whack at it
• If you hit a winner, say nothing, take the point
• If you miss, call the serve long

Server:

• Exact opposite of above
• Receiver makes good return, say serve was out (stop play)
• Receiver makes bad return, say ball was in
• Receiver calls ball out, say serve was in

haha

 

[nyta2]

They lost the point. They have to assume that the ball is in if it’s not called out.

generally agree… only caveat is if someone is typically trying to “get 2 chances to win”… by calling serves late…

but I usually tell them that they need to call it immediately before contact (especially if they are the type to take practice returns on out balls)

 

[EddieBrock]

Server cannot call 1st serve in or out. This also applies to team. Server can call 2nd serve out. Since neither you nor your partner called the 1st serve out, server should assume serve is good. If close, and you played it as good, then you’re playing according to the code. If the ball was 12” out and you played it, then your opponents have a right to complain; but that’s not what you said. Your partner should be calling the service line parallel to the net and you call the line vertical to the net.

Your opponents can complain about your good call, but will they also complain if they thought the ball was in and it was called out?

My partner was calling a lot of serves and it was close enough that he didn't call it out. To my eye it was in and definitely not a foot or more out.

When in doubt ball is in, you did what you were supposed to do. Opponent shouldn’t have stopped playing, this is his problem. Your point, end of story. Your partner not seeing it is irrelevant.

Now if the serve was a foot out, your opponent would have something to complain about. We were playing yesterday, my partner hit a serve a foot out, opponent played it but I called it out right away. Goal is to get call right, I guess they could have complained I don’t have the right to make the call, but it is rec tennis, there has to be some common sense and cooperation in calls.

PS. Looks like from an old thread this is at least the second time this has happened to you.

My partner was calling a lot of serves and so was I and we always called them right away. There were other points I called the serve out and proceeded to hit a winner.

Second serve for your opponent b/c your partner made the moronic response of "I guess so" when the server complained. (If your partner was unable to give a definitive "yes, it was out" in a timely manner then he should have confirmed that the serve was indeed "in" and the point would have been yours).

That was kind of my feelings. If it was obviously out my partner would have said something. It wasn't until asked by the opponent that he gave that "I guess so" answer and then after the point he said it was close and he couldn't tell.

If just wish we had automatic line calling like the pros, but until then I'm trying to do the best I can.