The Rule Of Tennis
A couple of weeks ago I played a practice match on the park courts near my house. Recently someone painted numbers directly on the surface of the court. Unfortunately, whoever did this was obviously not terribly familiar with tennis. The new numbers were placed behind the baseline where tennis players typically position themselves during normal baseline singles tennis play.
My singles practice match was punctuated by recurring reflexive distraction of the white numbered circle coming in in and out of my peripheral vision as I ran around on the baseline. From of the corner of the eye, the marks look a lot like a tennis ball or other ankle rolling hazard on the court.
The mark itself is not advertising, but the rule that directly addresses this marking is in the Advertising appendix of the rules of tennis.
Advertising and other marks or material placed on the court surface outside the lines is permitted unless it interferes with the vision of the players or the playing conditions.
The ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix IV.3 (As published in the USTA Friend at Court)
The number placement on the court is a visual distraction to the player. In addition, the paint is not as gritty as the surrounding court surface which could be hazardous in humid playing conditions.
There are six tennis courts at the park and I was temporarily grateful that the ill-considered numbering project did not include the other four courts. However, one glance to the adjacent pickleball courts revealed the origin of the initiative.
I think this illustrates some of the inherent cultural differences between pickleball and tennis players that lead to misunderstanding. The number placement on the pickleball court isn’t a problem because the players do not play the game from that position. From a tennis perspective… it is thoughtless tennis court defacement.
- United States Tennis Association (2021), Friend at Court: Handbook of Rules and Regulations, White Plains, NY
