I can’t resist talking about a tennis rules editorial similar to the one discussed yesterday. These are fascinating to me because they capture sentiment and debate surrounding rule change proposals that never came to fruition. The editorial discussed yesterday was published prior to World War I. Today we find ourselves slightly after the precipice of another significant world event, yet the rules of tennis was still front of mind at least for some part of the Australian population.
A mere two weeks after the stock market crash that heralded the start of the Great Depression, the Maryborough Chronicle in Australia carried an editorial on net cord strokes credited to the pseudonym “Court.” The author was strongly in favor of the net-cord shot being declared a let, though conceded that the majority of players preferred inaction on alteration of the rule.
The net-cord shot is painted as patently unfair and capricious in some of the most flowery language possible. English writer Gordon Lowe was quoted “Is it not high time that something was done about that medieval stroke, ‘the net cord’ which is a relic of barbarism if ever there were one?”
A tantalizing snapshot of spectator etiquette was also included in this missive. It was noted that the back of the Wimbledon program included a printed reminder “Please do not applaud a net cord stroke.” This was cited as evidence that the tennis establishment regarded the net-cord shot as unfair.
I am unconvinced by that logic. It is similarly frowned upon for spectators to applaud after a double fault. That does not make the double fault unfair and something that should be eliminated from tennis.
Modern tennis etiquette runs along similar lines. It is still impolite to cheer a double fault with the exception of high school and collegiate team tennis where the standard is to erupt into a frenzy. Net-cord shots are generally met with an audience groan, but sometimes also applause if it terminated a well played point.
Another modern tennis standard is for the player who commits and benefits from a net-cord shot to hold up a hand to the opposing player. This is colloquially known as the “sorry, not sorry” apology.
I should be returning to the rules of tennis, but I have one more historic rabbit trail beckoning me for tomorrow.
- “Sporting. Tennis. Net Cord Strokes, A Vexed Question,” Maryborough Chronicle (Australia), By “Court”, November 13, 1929.
- Trove, National Library of Australia, viewed April 22, 2020.
