The Rules of Tennis
Last Saturday was a banner day of watching tennis on TV. With a temporary lull in USTA League play, and a flare up of plantar fasciitis dictating lower impact activities, I spent the day watching the Ladies Singles and Doubles finals at Wimbledon. There were a couple of moments in both matches that caught my attention.
Close Call
Ash Barty was serving at 3-4 in the Ladies Singles Finals. The first point of that game terminated with a Barty inside out forehand to the sideline that was called out. She challenged the call and the Hawk-Eye system determined that it was in… by maybe one or two millimeters. Karolina Svitolina threw up her arms in exasperation and Barty did the same in apology.
I couldn’t help but wonder how the same scenario would have played out in a USTA League match. I am quite certain that the ball would have been called out under most circumstances. If questioned, I am equally positive that the ball would have been “out by at least a foot” with self-righteous indignation that there was any question. There might have been shouting and hard feelings. In fact, it is very likely.
I have seen people lose their minds over line calls in league and tournament tennis. Watching professional matches that have an impartial linesman making every call reveals that the margins are sometimes too narrow to be certain either way. A section in the USTA Friend at Court, “The Code,” directly address this situation.
6. Opponent gets benefit of doubt.
7. Ball touching any part of the line is good.
8. Ball that cannot be called out is good.
USTA Friend at Court, The Code
The game is much better when played that way.
Hindrance
In the Ladies Doubles finals with the score tied 6-6 and deuce in the third set, the umpire called a let for hindrance. When the call was made Su-wei Hsieh and Elise Mertens had clear advantage on the point. Through the miracle of ESPN3 on-demand streaming, I have reviewed that moment repeatedly and still don’t fully understand the call. My best guess is that a spectator made a noise during the point.
In a best of three match with the third set score 6-6 deuce is the very definition of a pivotal moment. After a brief protest and explanation from the umpire, Hsieh and Mertens did the psychological equivalent of “NEXT.” They could have completely lost it, but rather accepted the call and moved on.
The game is much better when played that way.
- United States Tennis Association (2021), Friend at Court: Handbook of Rules and Regulations, White Plains, NY
