Rules Question

[justinmadison]

I was watching a college match today and an interesting rule came into play. During a singles match a ball was hit at an extreme angle pulling the player off the court. The player hit the ball from the left side of the court into the top of the net just to the left of the singles sticks, bounced off, and landed in play on the opposing side. The umpire ruled that because the ball hit the net between the singles stick and the net post it was 'out' and awarded the point to the other player. Before this happened I thought the entire net was in play and the ball would be good if it hit and bounced into the singles court.

During another match the chair umpire overruled an out call on the far side line. It was clear to everyone it was a terrible overrule. The ball was clearly out and called correctly. Does the player benefiting from an obviously bad overrule by the chair have any responsibility to correct the mistake? My guess is no but wow, it was probably the worst overrule ever. (Just to make matters worse it was on set point)

 

[GoneSouth]

I was watching a college match today and an interesting rule came into play. During a singles match a ball was hit at an extreme angle pulling the player off the court. The player hit the ball from the left side of the court into the top of the net just to the left of the singles sticks, bounced off, and landed in play on the opposing side. The umpire ruled that because the ball hit the net between the singles stick and the net post it was 'out' and awarded the point to the other player. Before this happened I thought the entire net was in play and the ball would be good if it hit and bounced into the singles court.

During another match the chair umpire overruled an out call on the far side line. It was clear to everyone it was a terrible overrule. The ball was clearly out and called correctly. Does the player benefiting from an obviously bad overrule by the chair have any responsibility to correct the mistake? My guess is no but wow, it was probably the worst overrule ever. (Just to make matters worse it was on set point)

1. The umpire was correct. The net between the singles stick and the net post is a permanent fixture and any ball that hits it is out, just as if it hit the fence or the umpire's chair. That's a hell of a call for the official to make. It's usually damn near impossible to tell whether a ball moving that fast hit inside or outside the stick when you are positioned at the net post.

2. Sure, a player benefitting from a bad overrule could theoretically correct it - but the real answer is that in college, the umpire can only overrule if the player who did not make the call appeals it. So since the player "benefitting" from the bad overrule is always the one who asked for the overrule in the first place, it would make no sense to ask for an overrule and then turn it down when it is granted

 

[bigserving]

Just to expand on the rule a bit further, if the ball hits the singles stick itself and lands in during a rally, the ball is good and play continues. If the server hits the singles stick is hit on any serve, it is a fault.

 

[McLovin]

1. The umpire was correct. The net between the singles stick and the net post is a permanent fixture and any ball that hits it is out, just as if it hit the fence or the umpire's chair. That's a hell of a call for the official to make. It's usually damn near impossible to tell whether a ball moving that fast hit inside or outside the stick when you are positioned at the net post.

Did anyone happen to catch this mistake in yesterday's Australia/US Davis Cup match between Sock & Tomic?

In the 4th set Tomic hit a wide serve and Sock returned the shot up the line. It clipped the tape between the post & singles stick, and dropped in. Tomic missed the backhand into the net, and no one said anything.

 

[justinmadison]

At first I thought the same thing. I watched it in slow motion and I think it hit inside the net inside the stick