As mentioned yesterday, I inadvertently thoroughly covered many of the cases in “A Good Return” within the ITF Rules of Tennis. As a result, I am anticipating that we will move through this section with an unprecedented speed to content ratio.
It is a good return if:
b. After the ball in play has hit the ground within the correct court and has spun or been blown back over the net, the player reaches over the net and plays the ball into the correct court, provided that the player does not break Rule 24.
USTA Friend at Court, ITF Rules of Tennis, Section 25
This rule was covered in “Imaginary Lines in Tennis” in discussion of ITF Case 4 of the “Player Loses Point” section. That post included a clip of Milos Raonic pulling off this shot in a mixed doubles match at the Hopman Cup.It is instructive to include it again.
There are some subtle differences in the case ruling, the wording of the rule, and the clip. In the excerpt provided above, it is clear that a player is allowed to reach over the net to contact a ball that has bounced back to the other side. Another way to phrase the “provided the player does not break Rule 24” clause is “as long as the player does not do something else which results in loss of the point.” Touching the net springs immediately to mind.
The requirement is also established that the ball has to land in the correct court. In the clip, Raonic does plays the ball into the correct court, but by hitting the ball back into the net. It is a perfectly legal and unreturnable ball. The perfect shot.
The Raonic shot is the only example of this shot I have found from a live tennis match on YouTube. There are many staged examples that explain the rule and how to hit the shot. (Step 1 – have long arms, Step 2 be fast…)
In the course of searching for an alternative example, I came across a video compilation of shots spinning back over the net in ATP matches. The compilation is long and, for inexplicable reasons, includes the same point from an exhibition match twice.
In examining the ATP compilation, it appears that there are a couple of instances where a player had the opportunity to reach across the net to play the ball, but did not. It makes me wonder if all players are aware of the possibility.
If you happen to have 9 minutes to spare to watch a compilation of freak tennis shots, here is the link.
- United States Tennis Association (2020) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
