Ready or not...here I come

[jc4.0]

I'm not sure which rule applies here, so maybe someone can help with a situation that came up this morning. In doubles, my opponent was serving. First serve is a fault. Second serve, as receiver I pound a winner down the middle that opponents can't touch.

Problem: server's partner says on the second serve, he wasn't ready, that he was distracted by a ball he thought was going to roll onto our court (but it never did). In fact I saw that he was looking over there as his partner served, and had taken a step toward the next court, before jumping back into position, realizing the point had started. I suggested that my opponent get another serve, but this third serve was a fault. She started to serve again, but I said "no - that was your second serve, so it's a double".

She got so mad, she almost walked off the court, saying that too much time had occurred between serves so she should have gotten two more, not one.

A few weeks ago playing against the same player, she argued that only the server and receiver must be ready to start the point - that as long as the receiver indicates he/she is ready, the server may serve regardless. I let her keep the point on that occasion, but today - wasn't in the mood to do the reverse. seems like some people just ask for that courtesy "rule bend" when it's in their favor!

 

[kylebarendrick]

You are not responsible for the server's partner. If the ball was served and no let was called then it is your point. They can't wait until after the point to say they were distracted.

However, once you agreed to replay the point then the ENTIRE point is replayed and the server gets a new first serve.

 

[esgee48]

+1

The server's partner should have called a let before the serve or said 'STOP' after the serve if she/he thought the ball was coming on the court. As the receiving team, either of you could also have indicated the server's partner was not ready just by holding your racquet up in your 'off hand.' It's not only a courtesy to do so, but also avoids someone being hit by the tennis ball because their attention was on a ball rolling around near them.

This doesn't happen on the courts I play because 'we're all experienced' and ensure everyone is ready before starting the point.

 

[goober]

I can't believe you gave them another serve. You can't claim a let after you hit a clean winner. As said before he had to call the let before you hit the ball not after the point is over. What if you hit the ball right to him and he vollyed a clean winner? Do you think he would have claimed a distraction then? Calling lets based on point outcomes is lame. Otherwise next time you hit a winner they could claim let- because a bird distracted them and almost flew near the court, the people on the next court were talking too loud, a hot chick was walking by or all kinds of silly stuff.

I assume this was a league match or serious match. If it were a social match, I pretty much let all kinds of things slide.

 

[michael_1265]

I never would have given them a replay. It's up to the server to ensure that the partner is ready.

 

[Cindysphinx]

You are not responsible for the server's partner. If the ball was served and no let was called then it is your point. They can't wait until after the point to say they were distracted.

However, once you agreed to replay the point then the ENTIRE point is replayed and the server gets a new first serve.

I agree and disagree!

Server is not entitled to replay the point. Point is over.

If I want to be nice and let them have a second serve, I suppose I can do that. If they insist on replaying the whole point and having two serves, then we can just let the point stand as played. Take it or leave it.

That said, the real problem here is failure to communicate what is being offered/replayed. If I offer another serve, I try to be crystal clear about what exactly I am offering. In this case, I might say "Take 1" or "Second serve" nice and loud. After all, it isn't cool to let someone think they have two serves coming when they don't. I think that is what annoyed the server.

Still, she lost the point twice, so it's hard for her to have much of a beef.

 

[kylebarendrick]

I understand what you are saying Cindy, and agree about being clear.

My reasoning for concluding that the whole point should be replayed (if anything is replayed) is based on the presumption that the server's partner was stopping play due to a ball appearing to be heading onto the court and that they were simply late calling a let. A let during a service motion is cause for a new first serve.

As I said above, if I was the receiver I wouldn't be offering any replays and if I was the server I'd have conceded the point (nice shot!).

 

[jht32]

I'm not sure which rule applies here, so maybe someone can help with a situation that came up this morning. In doubles, my opponent was serving. First serve is a fault. Second serve, as receiver I pound a winner down the middle that opponents can't touch.

Problem: server's partner says on the second serve, he wasn't ready, that he was distracted by a ball he thought was going to roll onto our court (but it never did). In fact I saw that he was looking over there as his partner served, and had taken a step toward the next court, before jumping back into position, realizing the point had started. I suggested that my opponent get another serve, but this third serve was a fault. She started to serve again, but I said "no - that was your second serve, so it's a double".

She got so mad, she almost walked off the court, saying that too much time had occurred between serves so she should have gotten two more, not one.

I think you are being very generous to allow the server another serve. I don't think it was necessary to offer another serve.

If I had heard you say something like "take another serve". I would have understood it to mean take "take one other serve."

I guess the point taken here is that you shouldn't be too nice You give someone an inch and they'll take a mile.