What would you have done? ...

[ROCKinCourier]

Playing in a 4.0 tournament singles match last night. He was up 6-5 in the first set, and it was my serve.

• I was down 0-40 on serve.
• He missed the return on my second serve, 15-40.
• Ace. 30-40.
• He mishit his return on my first serve. Deuce.
• I win the next point, but it was a close call on the baseline -- ball was out, but he thought it was in. My Ad.
• I hit a clear ace out wide on the ad-court and the ball hits line. He stares at it, then looks up at me in confusion, then he says -- "let's just replay the point because I couldn't tell." According to the rules this should have been my point. Since I'm just getting back into tennis after years away, and trying to avoid conflict, I just let it slide. He ends up winning the next two points, and I lose the second set 6-2.

He turned into a real a-hole as the match progressed (like when he was fetching a ball and hit it over to me, he'd hit it away from me). As I was finding my game, he couldn't really hang as I was getting better. I really let him get in my head that second set, and I just lost it mentally.

Would you confront him on the way he called the serve and wanted to replay the point?

 

[Deleted member 23235]

very clear cut... "i couldn't tell" == IN

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

He turned into a real a-hole as the match progressed (like when he was fetching a ball and hit it over to me, he'd hit it away from me). As I was finding my game, he couldn't really hang as I was getting better. I really let him get in my head that second set, and I just lost it mentally.

Agree with the others: if he couldn't see well enough to make a call, it was in [benefit of the doubt goes to the opponent].

But it's odd that he turned into a jerk because he clearly won the 2nd set by a large margin [unless every game went to multiple deuces]. Many people are fine when winning and only become Mr. Hyde when losing.

So, besides the specific situation with the call, the take away is to strengthen yourself mentally so things like that don't ruin your game because you will run into that occasionally in the future.

 

[WhiteOut]

He should have called it out or not at all. I would have just said 'sorry...if you cant decide then it's in, there is no let in that situation.'

if he then turned around and said, 'well then i guess it was out', which i cant imagine him doing, id really challenge that...really? you're actually going to change your call right now? you do realize that's breaking like three separate rules in a row, right?

If he sticks to his guns, his next shot, no matter where it lands, it's out. I dont care if its on the service line. I've only had to do that once in my tennis life. the opponent got the message loud and clear and cleaned up his act from there on out.

 

[ShaunS]

Would you confront him on the way he called the serve and wanted to replay the point?

I don't view it as being confrontational when you're telling someone the rules.

Was playing a doubles match on a court with a hole near the top of the net. Server hits the ball into the net and through the hole, we have a laugh, and he asks if that's a let. I tell him no. He says when he plays with his buddies they call it a let because you "never know the ball might have gone over". I told him that's fine, but it's not the rule, so the serve is out.

I'm not going to quibble with someone who might've genuinely thought a shot was out, but if the player didn't see it out then the rules say it's in. No argument, just the rules.

 

[kevrol]

if he then turned around and said, 'well then i guess it was out', which i cant imagine him doing, id really challenge that...really? you're actually going to change your call right now? you do realize that's breaking like three separate rules in a row, right?

I've actually had someone do that to me once.

 

[ROCKinCourier]

But it's odd that he turned into a jerk because he clearly won the 2nd set by a large margin [unless every game went to multiple deuces]. Many people are fine when winning and only become Mr. Hyde when losing.

I guess I wasn't very clear. He was becoming more of a jerk as the match progressed past the first couple games, and he realized it was going to be tougher than he might have anticipated.

End of the day -- no excuses. I lost because I'm not good enough right now. I was just wondering different takes on the line call situation.

 

[winchestervatennis]

Playing in a 4.0 tournament singles match last night. He was up 6-5 in the first set, and it was my serve.

• I was down 0-40 on serve.
• He missed the return on my second serve, 15-40.
• Ace. 30-40.
• He mishit his return on my first serve. Deuce.
• I win the next point, but it was a close call on the baseline -- ball was out, but he thought it was in. My Ad.
• I hit a clear ace out wide on the ad-court and the ball hits line. He stares at it, then looks up at me in confusion, then he says -- "let's just replay the point because I couldn't tell." According to the rules this should have been my point. Since I'm just getting back into tennis after years away, and trying to avoid conflict, I just let it slide. He ends up winning the next two points, and I lose the second set 6-2.

He turned into a real a-hole as the match progressed (like when he was fetching a ball and hit it over to me, he'd hit it away from me). As I was finding my game, he couldn't really hang as I was getting better. I really let him get in my head that second set, and I just lost it mentally.

Would you confront him on the way he called the serve and wanted to replay the point?

Tournament match - i tell him the rules say if he can’t tell he must give you the benefit of the doubt and call it in or ask if you saw it (in which case he must accept your call) and hit the balls over for him to serve at 6-6.

Friendly match - i still tell him the rule since he obviously doesn’t know (or is hoping you dont) but would ultimately play a let if he really pushed. And it would probably be my last friendly with him.

 

[tennis tom]

I hit a clear ace out wide on the ad-court and the ball hits line. He stares at it, then looks up at me in confusion, then he says -- "let's just replay the point because I couldn't tell." According to the rules this should have been my point.

It was your point, any doubt on a call goes to the opponent. It's a "tournament"--but it's 4.0 NTRPA--so anything goes. You could have called for an official--if they have one--to explain the rules to your opponent.

Play Senior Age Group tournaments, they will know the rules.

 

[BlueB]

I have a buddy who constantly calls for point replay on the shots he wasn't sure about. I explained the rule to him countless times, yet he still thinks a let should be played in a friendly match.

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

 

[Matthew Lee]

Simple. If it's out, they better call it out. If they ain't sure, then it's your point. It's not like they're the hawkeye of the match, and they most likely don't have the ability to. Either be sure it's in/out, or just don't question it. Happens so many times in high school tennis :/

 

[OrangePower]

Playing in a 4.0 tournament singles match last night. He was up 6-5 in the first set, and it was my serve.

• I was down 0-40 on serve.
• He missed the return on my second serve, 15-40.
• Ace. 30-40.
• He mishit his return on my first serve. Deuce.
• I win the next point, but it was a close call on the baseline -- ball was out, but he thought it was in. My Ad.
• I hit a clear ace out wide on the ad-court and the ball hits line. He stares at it, then looks up at me in confusion, then he says -- "let's just replay the point because I couldn't tell." According to the rules this should have been my point. Since I'm just getting back into tennis after years away, and trying to avoid conflict, I just let it slide. He ends up winning the next two points, and I lose the second set 6-2.

He turned into a real a-hole as the match progressed (like when he was fetching a ball and hit it over to me, he'd hit it away from me). As I was finding my game, he couldn't really hang as I was getting better. I really let him get in my head that second set, and I just lost it mentally.

Would you confront him on the way he called the serve and wanted to replay the point?

The rules are quite clear that you never play a let in this situation. Either the ball is called out, or if it can't be called out, it's in. No middle ground. You should not have let it slide - that was your mistake.

Your opponent's mistake was saying he couldn't tell instead of just calling it out, especially considering you had hooked him on a line call the previous point (kidding, kidding!)

 

[NuBas]

Sounds like it was fair first set. He let you by with one and so you returned the favor. He prevailed 7-5 then you lost yourself 6-2. Confront him for acting rude? You should know competition does this to people. I'm not supporting him but you should be able to let this go and get better.

 

[r2473]

Would you confront him on the way he called the serve and wanted to replay the point?

In the past, yes. Now I just remember I'm playing rec tennis and I'm bound to run into many different "personalities".

I just would have simply served the ball again (when he was 100% ready), without comment, eye rolling, or anything. Just went along as if what he did is the way it should be done. No lectures on the changeover. No "subtle" comments about "that guy I played last week that called my ace serves out". Nothing. I just simply would have said "sounds fair, let's replay that".

• I win the next point, but it was a close call on the baseline -- ball was out, but he thought it was in. My Ad.

And I would have played this ball as in.

Surprisingly, since I've started playing balls several inches out as in, I've noticed that nobody even thinks those balls are out. I expected people to say "I think you were a bit generous on that last call, are you sure it wasn't out", but I never get that. Which tells me that, when I call balls a few inches out on the baseline "out", people must think I'm hooking them.

very clear cut... "i couldn't tell" == IN

Sure, if you are playing someone that plays as often as you. But just the fact he'd do this would tell me right away that he's just a pure rec player. What I mean is, guys who play a lot would NEVER do this. Because you understand. It's clear that this guy didn't. The fact that he even suggested playing a let tells me it's not worth arguing with the guy. Just play a let and move on.

 

[LGQ7]

"let's just replay the point because I couldn't tell."

If I could not tell, I would walk up where the ball landed and look at the mark on the ground. Every ball leaves a mark on the ground. That should be the procedure. Then it's "neighborhood rules": a) can't tell, it's in. b) re-do.

 

[ShaunS]

Surprisingly, since I've started playing balls several inches out as in, I've noticed that nobody even thinks those balls are out. I expected people to say "I think you were a bit generous on that last call, are you sure it wasn't out", but I never get that. Which tells me that, when I call balls a few inches out on the baseline "out", people must think I'm hooking them.

In a competitive match, if a ball was close to the line it's very unlikely that I would make any comments about an opponents line call. Seems like it's all downside. Worst case, maybe they start calling balls just on the line out. I wouldn't necessarily jump to the conclusion that they think you're cheating the other times. They might only be silently thanking your generosity in their own head.

 

[ROCKinCourier]

If I could not tell, I would walk up where the ball landed and look at the mark on the ground. Every ball leaves a mark on the ground. That should be the procedure. Then it's "neighborhood rules": a) can't tell, it's in. b) re-do.

Those aren't "neighborhood rules", they are THE rules ....

https://www.usta.com/content/dam/usta/pdfs/2015_Code.pdf

 

[penpal]

In the interest of making sure it didn't become a habit, I would stop play and discuss it with him. I'd probably try not to be too confrontational though. Maybe a white lie like, "You know, I used to replay points like that too, but my last opponent told me you can't play a let when you aren't sure of the call. He said if I'm not sure, I have to call it in - benefit of the doubt to the opponent and all. I talked to the tourney director afterward and, sure enough, he was right. Anyway, I'm fine with playing this point over again, but going forward if either of us are unsure whether a shot is in or out, I think we need to just call it good."

 

[Cindysphinx]

Well . . . You knew the rule and let it slide. I wouldn't have, but you are within your rights to do that.

I would certainly let things slide if there is a good excuse. Like, we play in noisy bubbles, and sometimes an out call on a neighboring court can be confused with a genuine out call. If that happens, I might let it slide (especially if I heard it too and the timing were such that my opponent was genuinely confused) and replay the point if my opponent feels they have been treated poorly.

Changing your mind about a line call on a big point because it is a big point? No way.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

It's a tournament. You play by official rules. Meaning he's not entitled to a first serve if a ball rolls over between serves unless you say he is (which you have no obligation to). Official rules dictate the point was yours, no gray area.

On a second note, I want to say that there is a small possibility (though I suppose unlikely in your case) that he wasn't hitting the ball away from you on purpose. When I get tired my control drops, and I always try to hit the ball over in the most time efficient way possible, which sometimes means not stopping to properly pick up the ball and drop hit it over (I pick it up in whatever way with my racket and hit it back over immediately). There are plenty of times where I'll hit it to the wrong part of the court, away from my opponent, unintentionally. I almost always apologize every time. The times I don't are usually when I'm too tired and am trying to get some air into my lungs.