Our exploration of the hindrance rule in the ITF Rules of Tennis continues. Today the focus shifts from hindrance that is within a player’s personal control to things that a player cannot control.
If a player is hindered in playing the point by a deliberate act of the opponent(s), the player shall win the point.
However, the point shall be replayed if a player is hindered in playing the point by either an unintentional act of the opponent(s), or something outside the player’s own control (not including a permanent fixture).
USTA Friend at Court, ITF Rules of Tennis, Section 26
One broad category of hindrance is applicable only to matches where officials are present on the court. In other words, these scenarios are the ones frequently seen on TV, but are mostly not applicable to recreational play. If a linesman makes an incorrect call is subsequently overruled by the chair umpire, then a hindrance call may also be made. This is another “it depends….” rule in tennis.
After overruling another official’s call, the chair umpire must also render a decision on whether the player who was next to strike the ball was impacted by the call. For example, if an ace was incorrectly called out, the chair umpire could rule that the receiver had no play on the ball and award the point to the server. Alternatively in the same situation the umpire could determine that the receiver did have a play on the ball and order the point to be replayed. It is a judgement call.
Another hindrance that is outside of the players control consists of a person wandering onto the court during play. As an example, here is a clip of a ball kid entering the court apparently incorrectly believing that the point was over.
In this case, Vicktor Troicki was set up for an easy winner, but was forced to replay the point due to the hindrance. I am kind of surprised that Andy Murray did not concede the point in this situation. I also feel really sorry for the ball kid. He’s just a kid. People make mistakes.
Twice in recent memory I have been hindered by a roving umpire at tournaments. I am… somewhat less sympathetic toward the umpires in those cases. On both occasions the umpire crossed the court adjacent to the net in the middle of a point being played. I mean, I am aware that my footwork has a lot of room for improvement, but I am not so immobile that one would reasonably fail notice that a point was being played.
Hindrance can also occur when another player enters the court during a point. When courts have extremely tight spacing, sometimes players have to infringe on a neighboring court to make a return on a ball in play. I have also had other players wander across my court mid-point. The latter event occurs more frequently in league play where other guests of the tennis facility might lack awareness of the rules and etiquette of the game.
This mostly dispenses with the main body of the hindrance rule. I think that I might have to nod at the inclusion of permanent fixtures. Additionally there are five ITF Case Decisions in this section left to dissect. So we will be spending at least a couple more days on this topic.
- United States Tennis Association (2020) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
- “Wayward ball boy bothers Viktor Troicki“, Associated Press, May 31, 2011.
