Can someone explain how the rule covering server and returner is supposed to work? (rule 21)
It's my understanding that the server is supposed to wait for the receiver to be ready but the receiver is supposed to play to the server's reasonable pace.
In other words, the server obviosuly can't deliberately try to serve while the receiver is still getting ready. But the receiver should attempt to conform to the server's pace of play and be ready to recieve within a reasonable period of time after the server is ready.
The rule clearly demands that both players be good sports and accomodate the realities of rec play (eg chasing down balls). But I ran into an opponent who is clearly out of shape and who insisted that I take extra time before serving even though we were both in position, the balls were collected up, and I was ready to serve. He was even set in the ready position but still insisted I pause for several seconds before serving!
It's as if he wanted to rest and collect his thoughts while habing me cool my heels. When I served several times after seeing him assume the ready position he became VERY angry. I told him to raise his racquet or hand if he needed extra time but that still seemed unfair in that I, the server, would then be conforming to HIS pace of play even though we were both ready.
It's clear he was tired and flustered and wanted to rest between points. I won anyway 6-2, 6-2 and didn't argue but I'm curious since pace and conditioning are important parts of tennis, both physically and mentally.
It's my understanding that the server is supposed to wait for the receiver to be ready but the receiver is supposed to play to the server's reasonable pace.
In other words, the server obviosuly can't deliberately try to serve while the receiver is still getting ready. But the receiver should attempt to conform to the server's pace of play and be ready to recieve within a reasonable period of time after the server is ready.
The rule clearly demands that both players be good sports and accomodate the realities of rec play (eg chasing down balls). But I ran into an opponent who is clearly out of shape and who insisted that I take extra time before serving even though we were both in position, the balls were collected up, and I was ready to serve. He was even set in the ready position but still insisted I pause for several seconds before serving!
It's as if he wanted to rest and collect his thoughts while habing me cool my heels. When I served several times after seeing him assume the ready position he became VERY angry. I told him to raise his racquet or hand if he needed extra time but that still seemed unfair in that I, the server, would then be conforming to HIS pace of play even though we were both ready.
It's clear he was tired and flustered and wanted to rest between points. I won anyway 6-2, 6-2 and didn't argue but I'm curious since pace and conditioning are important parts of tennis, both physically and mentally.