Partner rushed off to Emergency Room!

OrangePower

Legend
Played some dubs last night... and late in the second set, my partner had to go to the Emergency Room!

Yup, he's a doctor, and had a hard stop because he was on duty for the night shift at the local ER. He warned us beforehand that he had to leave by 9pm, so that was ok. And it was just a friendly match.

Here's a question though: When he had to leave, we were up 5-4 in the second set, with my service game coming up. I had been holding serve pretty easily all night with many aces and service winners, so I reckon I would have had a chance of closing it out on my own. If this happened in a USTA match, could I play my service game on my own? Or does your partner have to be on the court (even if they don't touch a ball)?

Obviously if I lost my service game I'd have to concede the match at that point, but just wondering if you can at least attempt to close it out. Or maybe you can according to the rules but it would be considered poor sportmanship?
 

wrxinsc

Professional
^ i have no idea regarding the answer but am curious as we have teh-doc-gotta-go-probs at times as well. tends to happen more often with the younger docs and/or our cardio, emerg, etc. sorts. our grey haired private practice guys - not so much. :)
 

BravoRed691

Semi-Pro
From the title i thought one of you guys go hurt! Way to prank grrrr!

I would think if one of your players left then you either forfeit or if both teams agree on a reschedule????

Br
 
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OrangePower

Legend
I would think if one of your players left then you either forfeit or if both teams agree on a reschedule????

Well, that's the question! Say the other team does not agree to reschedule. And the remaining player is about to serve for the match. Is it within the rules for that one next game to continue with just the remaining player serving and playing that game by himself? And then obviously if the match was not over after this one game then it would need to be forfeited.
 

BravoRed691

Semi-Pro
Well, that's the question! Say the other team does not agree to reschedule. And the remaining player is about to serve for the match. Is it within the rules for that one next game to continue with just the remaining player serving and playing that game by himself? And then obviously if the match was not over after this one game then it would need to be forfeited.

Well i dont think the "rules" care why one pair is only left with one player, or how many games are left to be played...i know if one of the partners got mad and stormed off, the other partner can't continue by themself...a doubles match has to be played with both players...the same players...or it's forfeit...im sure the rule book address it but im without mine right now hehe

Br
 

Larrysümmers

Hall of Fame
i dont have a cite for this, but i believe if it were official you would have lost. im not certain, but just a strong assumption.
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
You lose. Both partners must be on the court.

Hopping around one one leg in the back court behind you while you serve is good enough.
 

doubleshack

New User
Under Rule 15 of the Friend at Court is the following:

Case 1: Is one member of a doubles team allowed to play alone against the opponents?
Decision: No

Rule 15 is actually about Order of Receiving in Doubles, however, no reference in the case is made to server/receiver, so looks like you are out of luck.
 
i guess double shack found it but i would have though u could have served but you would have just had to cover the doubles lines by yourself and if you didn't close it out then it would have been impossible for you to win cause they could tap serve on your partners vacant slot and get that point everytime..
 

OrangePower

Legend
You lose. Both partners must be on the court.

Hopping around one one leg in the back court behind you while you serve is good enough.

Under Rule 15 of the Friend at Court is the following:

Case 1: Is one member of a doubles team allowed to play alone against the opponents?
Decision: No

Rule 15 is actually about Order of Receiving in Doubles, however, no reference in the case is made to server/receiver, so looks like you are out of luck.

So what counts as having your partner on the court? Hopping on one leg behind the baseline? Leaning against the back fence? Sitting in the corner? How about sitting on the bench? Not that I think this will ever really comes up, but it does seem a bit grey...
 

DeShaun

Banned
If your opponents are reasonable you can have your chance to serve solo for the match, but if they are smart they can bar you from your chance. Whatever is agreed on at the net before play may carry forwards as results.
 
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floydcouncil

Professional
So what counts as having your partner on the court? Hopping on one leg behind the baseline? Leaning against the back fence? Sitting in the corner? How about sitting on the bench? Not that I think this will ever really comes up, but it does seem a bit grey...

Them the rules... In DOUBLES, the rules don't allow you to play without the presence of a partner.
 

tennismonkey

Semi-Pro
Them the rules... In DOUBLES, the rules don't allow you to play without the presence of a partner.

what if he leaves his spiritual presence on the court but takes his physical body to the hospital?

what if he leaves a cardboard cutout of his image on the court?

what if he tags another teammate on the bench and that person subs in for him?

what if he goes to the bathroom and comes back but now has a ski mask on his face and a completely different outfit and doesn't have the same height or body shape?
 

jht32

Rookie
So what counts as having your partner on the court? Hopping on one leg behind the baseline? Leaning against the back fence? Sitting in the corner? How about sitting on the bench? Not that I think this will ever really comes up, but it does seem a bit grey...

I think that, say you were a few points from serving for the match, and your partner sprains his ankle really badly, your partner could be positioned at the back fence corner...to just cover really high bouncing lobs :)

I think that you could officially try to win the match as long as your partner was physically inside the "playing area" on your side of the court.
 

OrangePower

Legend
Did he get a call or did he leave because it was 9 pm? If the latter, then it was known to all.

It was known to all, so was not an issue as it actually happened. And it was just a friendly match.

It just made me curious as to how this could be handled if it happened in an official match; and if I could still serve for the match on my own.

what if he leaves a cardboard cutout of his image on the court?

Excellent idea - I am going to put a roll-up vinyl cutout in my tennis bag; as needed I can hang it on the back fence!
 
W

woodrow1029

Guest
It was known to all, so was not an issue as it actually happened. And it was just a friendly match.

It just made me curious as to how this could be handled if it happened in an official match; and if I could still serve for the match on my own.



Excellent idea - I am going to put a roll-up vinyl cutout in my tennis bag; as needed I can hang it on the back fence!

In an official USTA match, you would not be able to continue without a partner.

In a World Team Tennis league, however, you could.You would forfeit all points that would be your partner's serves, and you would forfeit all points that would be served by the opponent to your partner.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
It was known to all, so was not an issue as it actually happened. And it was just a friendly match.

It just made me curious as to how this could be handled if it happened in an official match; and if I could still serve for the match on my own.



Excellent idea - I am going to put a roll-up vinyl cutout in my tennis bag; as needed I can hang it on the back fence!

In the future, we will have robots as partners, so such issues will not arise. We will just program their skill level and they will play patiently with us.
 

OrangePower

Legend
In an official USTA match, you would not be able to continue without a partner.

Thanks Woodrow, so what would be the definition of your partner being present? E.g. he is standing somewhere within the playing area? Can he be sitting on the bench used for changeovers?
 
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woodrow1029

Guest
Thanks Woodrow, so what would be the definition of your partner being present? E.g. he is standing somewhere within the playing area? Can he be sitting on the bench used for changeovers?

Well, the rules state that any player may stand anywhere on their side of the net on or off the court. The code of conduct also states that you cannot leave the court for an unauthorized reason, or you are subject to a code violation under the point penalty system.

My interpretation is that sitting on the bench is not acceptable. But I could be wrong.
 

Angle Queen

Professional
In an official USTA match, you would not be able to continue without a partner.

In a World Team Tennis league, however, you could.You would forfeit all points that would be your partner's serves, and you would forfeit all points that would be served by the opponent to your partner.
So, in theory, given the exact scenario of OP's situation -- him serving for the match and already up a break -- he could have continued. He would have had to win his serve/that game....because it would be impossible to win a game his opponents served (by having to forfeit every point that would be served to the now-absent partner).

I actually enjoyed the format of WTT. Too bad it never really caught on around here.

ps...and btw, my partner also rushed to the ER yesterday right before our scheduled scrimmage with some friends. But she's not a doc. :( She had belly aches that she and her doc thought might be appendicitis. CT Scan said no...but still scary.
 

LuckyR

Legend
Well, the rules state that any player may stand anywhere on their side of the net on or off the court. The code of conduct also states that you cannot leave the court for an unauthorized reason, or you are subject to a code violation under the point penalty system.

My interpretation is that sitting on the bench is not acceptable. But I could be wrong.

So it is OK to be "off the court"? Then being at work in the ER across town would qualify. Assuming of course that the hospital was not located in a part of town that was on the other side of the net...
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
Let me see if I can blow Woodrow's mind . . .

OP's partner is feeling a bit overheated but doesn't want to retire. He drags his team's wooden bench onto his side of the court and positions it in the back corner by the fence. He sits on it as OP steps up to serve.

Opponents object, claiming the bench is a hindrance and players are not allowed to rearrange permanent fixtures.

Ruling? :)
 

BravoRed691

Semi-Pro
Let me see if I can blow Woodrow's mind . . .

OP's partner is feeling a bit overheated but doesn't want to retire. He drags his team's wooden bench onto his side of the court and positions it in the back corner by the fence. He sits on it as OP steps up to serve.

Opponents object, claiming the bench is a hindrance and players are not allowed to rearrange permanent fixtures.

Ruling? :)

If the fixtures were truly permanent, it would not have been "re-arrangeable" ... silly opponents...

Br
 

Sakkijarvi

Semi-Pro
lol, know we have rules lawyering ... 'partner present'?? What is the definition of the word, "is"?

Some years back in the middle of a match I received word that a close relative had died. First words out of the other guy's mouth were, "does this mean we're not going to finish the match?" We did not .. but maybe he could have imagined that I was present and beat the snot out of me.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
sounds like a good question for the tennis channel guy that has that "you make the call" or whatever commercial. :)

Played some dubs last night... and late in the second set, my partner had to go to the Emergency Room!

Yup, he's a doctor, and had a hard stop because he was on duty for the night shift at the local ER. He warned us beforehand that he had to leave by 9pm, so that was ok. And it was just a friendly match.

Here's a question though: When he had to leave, we were up 5-4 in the second set, with my service game coming up. I had been holding serve pretty easily all night with many aces and service winners, so I reckon I would have had a chance of closing it out on my own. If this happened in a USTA match, could I play my service game on my own? Or does your partner have to be on the court (even if they don't touch a ball)?

Obviously if I lost my service game I'd have to concede the match at that point, but just wondering if you can at least attempt to close it out. Or maybe you can according to the rules but it would be considered poor sportmanship?
 

mucat

Hall of Fame
I thought the partner can stand anywhere inside or "outside" :wink: the court?

:D :D

Also, the earth is round, what's on one side is also on the other side. :D
 
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