Serena's behavior was justifiably penalized, but wasn't the foot fault call crap?

[bluetrain4]

Okay, I know there are will be a lot of "rules are rules" responses.

But, this just hardly ever happens. Even the AP wrote:

"With Williams serving at 5-6, 15-30 in the second set, she faulted on her first serve. On the second serve, a line judge called a foot fault, making it a double-fault -- a call rarely, if ever, seen at that stage of any match, let alone the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament."

We've all played and watched tennis. We all know that many players crowd the line and that many players, some many times during a match, are either millimeters from foot faulting or foot fault by millimeters. And, we know that there's no way it's called everytime.

This judge called a very close foot fault without the benefit of replays (as we've had). Everyone is harping about the fact that she did technically footfault, but that's after seeing multiple replays. I don't think the judge could know for certain having watched it one time. And, it's the lack of certainty why it's never called that late in a match, not because it technically could have happend.

I just think it's crap. None of it excuses Serena's response. She went WAY too far. She could have complained to the ref, muttered to herself, cracked her racquet after the match. I think she was rightly penalized.

But, so many of you hate Serena even before this. What if it was Clijsters, on her way to upsetting Serena, and she was down 5-6, 15-30, and the foot fault gave Serena two set points?

I have just never seen that close of a foot fault called at that stage. Only Stefan Edberg style, two-inch foot faults, when he's leaning way into court and trying to get to net are usually called.

 

[user92626]

Let me ask you this.

If you were that linewoman who was entrusted with the duty to make call unbiasly, and sure you could quickly think about all the politics, consequences and things that we now know in hindsight, and let Serena's footfault slip, Serena went on and won that point and a few more to win the match. Would you be able to sleep at night knowing that Serena had won with a violation and the consequential point should have been Kim C's.? Would it have been fair to Kim C.?

 

[bluetrain4]

Fair point.

But, from what I've seen, I guess I just don't think she could be totally sure in the blink of an eye (again, without the benefit of replay). And, again, it's the lack of certainty, not the impossibility of it actually being a foot fault, why I think it's never called that late in a match, unless it's hugely obvious.

 

[stormholloway]

Let's say the footfault had been ignored. Do you really think Kim would be angry if it were to be revealed that Serena's toe touched the baseline? Do you really think that would affect her one bit?

No. Of course not, because players don't give two ***** about footfaults. They are clearly far less significant than line calls involving the tennis ball. Everyone knows it's a different animal.

 

[Steady Eddy]

You're right. Let's see the sense of having footfault rules. Of course a player can't serve from anywhere, but does a millimeter make a difference? No it doesn't, and I realize that this will raise the old "slippery slope" argument. So, sure we claim that there is the footfault rule, but unofficially, and tennis people KNOW this, footfaults are NOT called in critical situations. Because Serena undoubtedly knows this, (something many TTers don't understand, and don't say, "I may not know much about tennis, but since I understand that 'rules are rules' I can still weigh in on this situation...", sorry but if you don't know much about tennis, then you can't weigh in.) of course she felt outraged to find dirt farmer officiating at a grand slam tournament. Guess they got to train goofy people like that lady, because some people are ignorant and back it up with little common sense. This horrible situation could have been so easily avoided.

 

[stormholloway]

And of course she was wearing glasses, calling her ability to see even further into question.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Let me ask you this.

If you were that linewoman who was entrusted with the duty to make call unbiasly, and sure you could quickly think about all the politics, consequences and things that we now know in hindsight, and let Serena's footfault slip, Serena went on and won that point and a few more to win the match. Would you be able to sleep at night knowing that Serena had won with a violation and the consequential point should have been Kim C's.? Would it have been fair to Kim C.?

You don't think it out as it happens. You've reflected on the tennis tradition of not calling them at critical spots and have accepted it. They put someone ignorant of tennis in an important spot. No sports have perfect officiating, but tennis is the worst at allowing completely unqualified people serious roles in the officiating.

 

[dwhiteside]

You're right. Let's see the sense of having footfault rules. Of course a player can't serve from anywhere, but does a millimeter make a difference? No it doesn't, and I realize that this will raise the old "slippery slope" argument. So, sure we claim that there is the footfault rule, but unofficially, and tennis people KNOW this, footfaults are NOT called in critical situations. Because Serena undoubtedly knows this, (something many TTers don't understand, and don't say, "I may not know much about tennis, but since I understand that 'rules are rules' I can still weigh in on this situation...", sorry but if you don't know much about tennis, then you can't weigh in.) of course she felt outraged to find dirt farmer officiating at a grand slam tournament. Guess they got to train goofy people like that lady, because some people are ignorant and back it up with little common sense. This horrible situation could have been so easily avoided.

Yes, it could have been avoided if she stepped backwards an inch before she served because she knew that the linespeople were gung ho about calling footfaults and weren't afraid to do so, and secondly if she kept her mouth shut after the call was made and served two aces to even it up at deuce and then got back on a level playing field and eventually won the match.

You are shifting the action, responsibility, and blame off of Serena onto various externals and making her into a helpless victim.

 

[stormholloway]

Yes, it could have been avoided if she stepped backwards an inch before she served because she knew that the linespeople were gung ho about calling footfaults and weren't afraid to do so, and secondly if she kept her mouth shut after the call was made and served two aces to even it up at deuce and then got back on a level playing field and eventually won the match.

You are shifting the action, responsibility, and blame off of Serena onto various externals and making her into a helpless victim.

Nonsense. We are debating something specific. You may be right about Serena. She could have shifted back a couple inches. Good idea, but right now we're talking about the foot fault call and whether or not it should have been made.

You're raising a bunch of ifs that are irrelevant to this particular discussion,

 

[WhiteKnight]

Why keep dwelling on whether it was a CLEAR foot fault or not? or when it's appropriate to call it or not? Someone was there to do her job and saw it happened, so she made the call. It's really that simple.

What isn't debatable is how Serena lost her temple out there. You can't defend that in any form or shape. She lost the match because she couldn't control her nerves...even with triple match point, she would still have a chance to make a comeback. She gave the match away when she broke her racquet, she just didn't know it then.

 

[navratilovafan]

I did not see a good angle of it. However if her foot crossed the line the call was correct.

 

[35ft6]

If she foot faulted, it was the right call. And no TV replay that I've seen offers anything remotely like the view that woman had. Serena herself said she probably foot faulted in the post match interview. Rules are rules. And while we're at it, I would like to see the time limit between serves be enforced rigorously.

 

[navratilovafan]

Basically linespeople should always call a legitimate foot fault no matter when it is during what match. If she did not foot fault then it was the wrong call, but if her foot actually did cross the line they made the right call IMO. For me it is pretty simple. If the past thinking has been "it is such a big match at this point" then they were not doing their job the way they were supposed to in the first place in the past then.

 

[AndrewD]

An umpire's opinion.

Speaking as someone who called lines at the Aus Open and other professional events (including the US Open) for 12 years, there's just no way you can not make a call. Your sole reason for being on the court is to make the call - that's it. You aren't there to think about the people playing, the status of the match or anything other than making the correct call. To be perfectly honest, as an umpire, you feel completely divorced from everything except the job you have to do. Your focus is on not making a mistake which means not missing any calls.

I'm also not sure where anyone would get the idea that calls aren't made during certain stages of a match. Perhaps you do it when you're playing social or club tennis but it just isn't true in the world of professional tennis.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Basically linespeople should always call a legitimate foot fault no matter when it is during what match. If she did not foot fault then it was the wrong call, but if her foot actually did cross the line they made the right call IMO. For me it is pretty simple. If the past thinking has been "it is such a big match at this point" then they were not doing their job the way they were supposed to in the first place in the past then.

Why can tennis not conduct itself in such a way? If everyone understands it to be this way, how can you prove that they're the worse for doing it in such a manner? Maybe they've used flexibility and you don't happen to like flexibility? But you don't run tennis, why must it conform to your expectations?

 

[bluetrain4]

Speaking as someone who called lines at the Aus Open and other professional events (including the US Open) for 12 years, there's just no way you can not make a call. Your sole reason for being on the court is to make the call - that's it. You aren't there to think about the people playing, the status of the match or anything other than making the correct call. To be perfectly honest, as an umpire, you feel completely divorced from everything except the job you have to do. Your focus is on not making a mistake which means not missing any calls.

I'm also not sure where anyone would get the idea that calls aren't made during certain stages of a match. Perhaps you do it when you're playing social or club tennis but it just isn't true in the world of professional tennis.

It's not that I think that "clear" calls are purposely not made at certain stages of the match, it's that I think when it's very close (not Edberg-style obvious) and the linesperson is not absolutely certain, they err on the side of not calling it, and that's why we rarely see it late in a match, again, unless it's a Stefan Edberg, two-inches over the line type footfault.

I guess, from what I've seen, and recognizing that the line judge didn't have the benefit of replay, Serena's footfault was extremely close, and therefore, I just didn't think the judge could be absolutely sure. Yes, we can confirm it after the fact with replays, but again, I didn't think the judge could make a foolproof call, so it was surprising.

[And, as always, I in no way think Serena's behavior is excusable in any way, though I understand why she was upset.]

 

[Steady Eddy]

If she foot faulted, it was the right call. And no TV replay that I've seen offers anything remotely like the view that woman had. Serena herself said she probably foot faulted in the post match interview. Rules are rules. And while we're at it, I would like to see the time limit between serves be enforced rigorously.

But what if the de facto rule has been to ignore FFs if they're not extreme and the point is critical? There are advantages to a 'rules are rules' POV, but there are also advantages to the flexibility understanding that I spoke of. For example, in your area do the police allow drivers to go 5 mph over the speed limit? Is that necessarily bad because "rules are rules". If you got a ticket for going 1 mph over the limit would you be upset? I think you're trying to oversimplify this situation for the sake of having a POV. But did you know that in tennis, it has been a long 'understanding' that tiny FFs in such a situation are ignored? It's not right to suddenly change the interpretation of long understood rulings.

 

[user92626]

Let's say the footfault had been ignored. Do you really think Kim would be angry if it were to be revealed that Serena's toe touched the baseline? Do you really think that would affect her one bit?

Why would you want to speculate on what a player might feel about an alternative scenerio? How is anyone going prove one way or the other? How is that going to help in any debate or course of action? See how ridiculous that is.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Speaking as someone who called lines at the Aus Open and other professional events (including the US Open) for 12 years, there's just no way you can not make a call. Your sole reason for being on the court is to make the call - that's it. You aren't there to think about the people playing, the status of the match or anything other than making the correct call. To be perfectly honest, as an umpire, you feel completely divorced from everything except the job you have to do. Your focus is on not making a mistake which means not missing any calls.

I'm also not sure where anyone would get the idea that calls aren't made during certain stages of a match. Perhaps you do it when you're playing social or club tennis but it just isn't true in the world of professional tennis.

Really? Do the umpires all feel as you? Fedace posted a Utube video of a player being called for a footfault on 2nd serve, match point. Boy did he go ballistic. Would that be because he felt that it shouldn't have been called in that situation? Why would John McEnroe feel that way also? How does McEnroe still not understand tennis despite spending most of his life in the game? BTW, how does one get selected to be a linseman for the Aus Open?

 

[Tennis Fan]

I'm sure the lineswoman is thinking to herself: Why did it have to be ME in the middle of this controversy?!

But, I think the lineswoman was wrong too in her calling it a foot fault.

I wish this whole thing hadn't happened to Serena period because she's gone through a lot of negativity from people for simply being a minority female in the sport, so when things like this happen, it's all the more reason for people to be negative & dislike her.

She could have kept her cool a lot better though.

 

[Annika]

Funny when they showed that point over, I saw the front part of her foot smear over the line. NTM, the Williams' are always being told about their foot faulting. Just so happened on a critical point.

I also think she was really feeling the pressure from Kim and got sloppy. She had served a few aces in a row previously to tie her, but I'm not sure she could have done it this second time.

 

[AndrewD]

it's that I think when it's very close (not Edberg-style obvious) and the linesperson is not absolutely certain, they err on the side of not calling it, and that's why we rarely see it late in a match, again, unless it's a Stefan Edberg, two-inches over the line type footfault.

1. You never make a call unless you're certain
2. The stage of the match plays no part in you being certain or uncertain.

Very simply, the problem you're having is that you don't believe a linesperson can be entirely certain of a particular call. That is your mistake.

Be sensible. If you can see a ball land in or out then you can most definitely see that a player (who is moving far slower than the ball) makes contact with the court - which includes the service line or inside the court- during their service motion.

In truth, it's one of the easiest calls to make.

But what if the de facto rule has been to ignore FFs if they're not extreme and the point is critical?

At no stage during the 12 years I umpired was I ever told to not enforce all of the rules. If I had been, I would have quit and I'm very sure a lot of others would have done the same.

Really? Do the umpires all feel as you? Fedace posted a Utube video of a player being called for a footfault on 2nd serve, match point. Boy did he go ballistic. Would that be because he felt that it shouldn't have been called in that situation? Why would John McEnroe feel that way also? How does McEnroe still not understand tennis despite spending most of his life in the game? BTW, how does one get selected to be a linseman for the Aus Open?

How would I know what ALL umpires feel? I do, however, know what the other umpires I worked with feel (strangely, we did talk to one another) and it is exactly what I said. Don't you think that's why I said it?

Again, how could I know what was going through the guy's head? However, human nature being what it is, I'm sure he just wanted to blame someone other than himself - I'm sure you've done similar at some point. Regardless, I don't see the point of this question.

You need to be qualified as an umpire (sit a test) and then you send in an application. That way umpires from all states and overseas have a chance to work the tournament. Local umpires are required to work a certain amount of minor events during the year (pennant, etc). Then, over the course of the event, they cut squads back until they're left with those people they consider to be the best umpires.

 

[DNShade]

Just as AndrewD said above...

You all realize that the foot fault call is the EASIEST CALL FOR A LINESPERSON TO MAKE right?

The linesperson is doing nothing but staring at the perfect angle at a stationary or slightly moving object (the feet) in perfect sight just twenty or so feet away.

And those of you that bring up Safin's FF from last year and his comments - that was because his back foot crossed over the centerline - not the baseline. A much less seen call.

 

[rob61]

The linesperson did exactly what she was supposed to do. She did not deserve such public humiliation from a tennis player. Serena should immediately PUBLICLY apologize to her. Since the people in the stands booed Serena, maybe Serena will do what she did in Indian Wells and vow to never play there again claiming racisim.

The true Serena showed herself off to the world tonight.

 

[jelle v]

Let's say the footfault had been ignored. Do you really think Kim would be angry if it were to be revealed that Serena's toe touched the baseline? Do you really think that would affect her one bit?

No. Of course not, because players don't give two ***** about footfaults. They are clearly far less significant than line calls involving the tennis ball. Everyone knows it's a different animal.

And this is the truth.. too bad everybody ignores this post, because with this post, the whole argument has been settled. No Kim Clijsters doesn't give a crap about a toe touching the baseline and the line judge should never have called the foot fault at that point in the match. Serena's reaction was stupid, but that doesn't take away from the fact that she reacted to one of the most ridiculous calls ever made.

The linesperson did exactly what she was supposed to do. She did not deserve such public humiliation from a tennis player. Serena should immediately PUBLICLY apologize to her. Since the people in the stands booed Serena, maybe Serena will do what she did in Indian Wells and vow to never play there again claiming racisim.

The true Serena showed herself off to the world tonight.

People weren't booing Serena.. they were booing the lines judge, the umpire and the referees..

 

[Fed Kennedy]

They should be able to challenge the call with replay. Then there wouldnt be any controversy. They could put it up on the bigscreen and everybody would see it. Terrible way to end a match.

 

[Jay_The_Nomad]

While I agree that some "common sense" should have been applied in relation to the footfault call, given the pressing situation and that the umpire should have let it slide, I'm not inclined to agree that ALL umpires should be so lenient.

Some umpires are going to be sticky on this and that is perfectly fine imo.

The point is that Serena was unlucky with the footfault (i.e. she was unlucky to have physically stepped on the line) and she was also unfortunate to have a stickler of stickies when it comes to umpiring.

 

[Dave M]

They should be able to challenge the call with replay. Then there wouldnt be any controversy. They could put it up on the bigscreen and everybody would see it. Terrible way to end a match.

Whilst it wasn't the best way for it to end by a long way, at 15-30 the server double faulted, then double match point down she eruptd at a line judge irespective of what she said you can't shout at officials like that so, having already received a warning sometime earlier in the match was given a penalty point, bad timing meant it therefore gave her opponennt the match. she got treated fairly as per the rules of a sport she chooses to play, as i say it felt a bit of an anti climax fom the spectators point of view but it was quite a match, hope the final has as good tennis on show.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

Speaking as someone who called lines at the Aus Open and other professional events (including the US Open) for 12 years, there's just no way you can not make a call. Your sole reason for being on the court is to make the call - that's it. You aren't there to think about the people playing, the status of the match or anything other than making the correct call. To be perfectly honest, as an umpire, you feel completely divorced from everything except the job you have to do. Your focus is on not making a mistake which means not missing any calls.

I'm also not sure where anyone would get the idea that calls aren't made during certain stages of a match. Perhaps you do it when you're playing social or club tennis but it just isn't true in the world of professional tennis.

I COULD NOT AGREE MORE

I will repeat this Post ad nauseum so people start getting it right.

Thanks Andrewd

 

[jessey]

If every single linesperson are told to "not enforce foot-faults during important points" then at least we have a leveled playing field (even though this is problematic since it lets the linesperson determine when an important point).

But, as demonstrated today, that is clearly not the case, (notice the players haven't all flocked to her defense percisely because this is in the gray area). Clearly, this is not as commonly understood as some people have put it.

 

[Rippy]

Rules are rules. If it was a footfault, it should be called.

 

[jwbarrientos]

As starter said "rules are rules", that is a fact.

Foot fault was called by the best located person in the world, that is a second fact.

Was a foot fault, have no f****g idea, TV camera wasn't clear to see if it was room between Serena's feet and baseline.

Serena openly lost her temper, that is a fact.

Finishing the match in that way is shocking and sad, that is my opinion.

I saw Fernando Gonzalez (among others) making more ridiculous things to linespeople, Ok not sure he threaten anyone, but at ATP some guys go so far against judge, I'd like to see the same reaction like umpire and General Director has against Serena.

It won't hurt if Serena apologize (not sure she already did)..

 

[nfor304]

1. You never make a call unless you're certain
2. The stage of the match plays no part in you being certain or uncertain.

Very simply, the problem you're having is that you don't believe a linesperson can be entirely certain of a particular call. That is your mistake.

Be sensible. If you can see a ball land in or out then you can most definitely see that a player (who is moving far slower than the ball) makes contact with the court - which includes the service line or inside the court- during their service motion.

In truth, it's one of the easiest calls to make.



At no stage during the 12 years I umpired was I ever told to not enforce all of the rules. If I had been, I would have quit and I'm very sure a lot of others would have done the same.



How would I know what ALL umpires feel? I do, however, know what the other umpires I worked with feel (strangely, we did talk to one another) and it is exactly what I said. Don't you think that's why I said it?

Again, how could I know what was going through the guy's head? However, human nature being what it is, I'm sure he just wanted to blame someone other than himself - I'm sure you've done similar at some point. Regardless, I don't see the point of this question.

You need to be qualified as an umpire (sit a test) and then you send in an application. That way umpires from all states and overseas have a chance to work the tournament. Local umpires are required to work a certain amount of minor events during the year (pennant, etc). Then, over the course of the event, they cut squads back until they're left with those people they consider to be the best umpires.

I have also been a line umpire at the Aus Open and many other tournaments for several years and agree with AndrewD 100%. You make the call if its there to be made every time. I dont know about AndrewD but during most matches I did I was pretty much completely unaware of the scores since I was always focusing on my line and making sure I do my job.

It is a job after all, and you get graded on your performances. In fact there are many linesman who don't even play tennis or follow tennis, they just know the rules of the game inside out and could not care less about what the players think of them or what stage of a match a call is made.

When are getting paid to do a job then you do it to the best of your ability, you don't cut corners.

You get graded by accuracy and speed of the call etc etc as well as communication with the umpire. Your grades also determine which line you are placed on, how long you last at the tournament and which tournaments you get selected for, so a linesman doing a USopen semi final match will be one of the most accurate and consistent officials involved with the tournament.

As AndrewD said a foot fault is absolutely the easiest call to make. When the player goes to serve you are the only person in the entire stadium staring directly at their feet looking for the touch of the line, and when you see a foot touch the line you call it. Its clear as day.

If I was that linesman I would have made the same call. If I were the linesman in the youtube video of the guy going berserk I would also make the same call. There is no circumstance where you do not call a foot fault if that is what you see.

The players must play to the rules. They are professionals and they have been playing to the same set of rules their entire lives. The rules do not bend for anyone in any situations even if your name is Serena Williams or Roger Federer.

 

[Lejanius]

The lineswoman is completely right in calling the foot fault. More importantly what is lost in all of this is that this was the 2nd one Serena had in the match, the other coming on the other side. Obviously she was too close to the line, it's her fault she didn't move back an inch.

Being an official in a game is tough but she did the right thing. I don't care about what people think they should or shouldn't do, but the fact is that there should NEVER be leeway in when you do and don't enforce ANY rule in a professional game, it isn't fair to Serena's opponent to not enforce it, a rule is a rule. Serena is paid millions a year to know the rules and abide by them in the form of prize money, i have no sympathy for any athlete in this situation.

 

[nfor304]

Really? Do the umpires all feel as you? Fedace posted a Utube video of a player being called for a footfault on 2nd serve, match point. Boy did he go ballistic. Would that be because he felt that it shouldn't have been called in that situation? Why would John McEnroe feel that way also? How does McEnroe still not understand tennis despite spending most of his life in the game? BTW, how does one get selected to be a linseman for the Aus Open?

McEnroe has spent his entire career as a player fighting officials and umpires. He has no idea of the perspective of a linesman or an official. I would go so far to say that he is the most biased person on the subject in the world.

 

[Oldracquet27]

Let me ask you this.

If you were that linewoman who was entrusted with the duty to make call unbiasly, and sure you could quickly think about all the politics, consequences and things that we now know in hindsight, and let Serena's footfault slip, Serena went on and won that point and a few more to win the match. Would you be able to sleep at night knowing that Serena had won with a violation and the consequential point should have been Kim C's.? Would it have been fair to Kim C.?

If she fail in calling a long ball yes, but a foot fault?????? NOOOOOOOOOOO. That lineswoman was a complete idiot, i am sure she was not even aware of what was the score at that point!!!!!!!!.

 

[goober]

I am sure this image has been posted in other threads. From this view- and this is not even as good as the linesperson's view, her foot looks directly on the line.

 

[ttbrowne]

I was at a Challenger event in Tulsa yesterday and was sitting in the stands near the baseline and I could see when foot faults occured very clearly. There were numerous foot faults called all day yesterday and no one went ballistic.

 

[chess9]

Serena said in the post-match interview that she thinks she DID foot fault.

-Robert

 

[Fedace]

So Is Op saying if it is a Critical point, linejudge shouldn't call footfaults if it is a boarderline footfault ?

 

[clayman2000]

Its a tough call, but in my opinion, you dont make it. To call a ball out is one thing because your only looking at one object. But when calling a foot fault, the line judge is usually looking at two things. One is the location of the servers foot, and the other is the raquet as contact with the ball is made.

In my opinion, you only make that call if you are willing to risk your job on it. Foot faults cant be appealed, and are very much on a matter of opinion.

 

[woodrow1029]

Really? Do the umpires all feel as you? Fedace posted a Utube video of a player being called for a footfault on 2nd serve, match point. Boy did he go ballistic. Would that be because he felt that it shouldn't have been called in that situation? Why would John McEnroe feel that way also? How does McEnroe still not understand tennis despite spending most of his life in the game? BTW, how does one get selected to be a linseman for the Aus Open?

Yes umpires feel the same as him, coming from another umpire.

 

[nfor304]

Its a tough call, but in my opinion, you dont make it. To call a ball out is one thing because your only looking at one object. But when calling a foot fault, the line judge is usually looking at two things. One is the location of the servers foot, and the other is the raquet as contact with the ball is made.

In my opinion, you only make that call if you are willing to risk your job on it. Foot faults cant be appealed, and are very much on a matter of opinion.

You do not look at the racket when you are calling a foot fault.

You watch the foot and make the call when you hear the ball being hit.

 

[woodrow1029]

Its a tough call, but in my opinion, you dont make it. To call a ball out is one thing because your only looking at one object. But when calling a foot fault, the line judge is usually looking at two things. One is the location of the servers foot, and the other is the raquet as contact with the ball is made.

In my opinion, you only make that call if you are willing to risk your job on it. Foot faults cant be appealed, and are very much on a matter of opinion.

Wrong again..

 

[ubermeyer]

I still don't think it was the right call, but if she thought it was a foot fault she had every right to call it, at whatever stage of play. Rules are rules, as people have said a thousand times before.

However, I really think the umpire should be able to watch replays- e.g. the Gonzalez-Blake Olympics match, if they had seen a replay they would have for sure called Gonzalez for touching Blake's shot with his racket.

 

[kingdaddy41788]

It wasn't crap. It's crap that there are times when it isn't called because it's a big time player or a big moment in a match. It's the rules. It ought to be called on everyone, all the time.

 

[kingdaddy41788]

And it still hasn't been "justifiably penalized." She needs to be reprimanded much more severely.

 

[35ft6]

People weren't booing Serena.. they were booing the lines judge, the umpire and the referees..

The crowd was definitely booing Serena.

 

[5263]

So Is Op saying if it is a Critical point, linejudge shouldn't call footfaults if it is a boarderline footfault ?

I like J Mac as an announcer, but the worst thing I saw last nite, was them acting as though the call was bad, especially with virtually NO good view!

 

[TennisandMusic]

A fault is a fault people. There are two ways to fault on a serve. Step into the court, or hit the ball outside of the box. If you do either it's a fault. Period. There is no right or wrong time to call either of them. You call them.

If she hit her serve a mm out of the box, should it not be called and just let them "play the point"? Stepping into the court during a serve happens DURING the point. It is a fault. Period. It should be called all the time. Even on the second serve of someone who is championship point down at Wimbledon.

I will never EVER understand why players get mad at lines people who call a foot fault. Get over yourself. You faulted, deal with it.