One of the more interesting side effects generated by this site is being consistently regaled with tales of tennis controversy that occurs both on and off court. Last week I heard about a situation that transpired in a non-advancing USTA local league match. That scenario is a useful basis of exploration of what constitutes “ready to receive” per the ITF Rules of Tennis.
In a third set super breaker, one team hit a serve when the receiving team wasn’t ready. Specifically, the receiver’s partner had her back turned to the serving team as the serve was delivered. Because her partner wasn’t ready, the receiver caught the ball with her hand. I am kind of surprised that controversy ensued, but nevertheless it did.
This one is straight out of Rule 21 in the ITF Rules of Tennis.
A receiver who attempts to return the service shall be considered as being ready. If it is demonstrated that the receiver is not ready, the service cannot be called a fault.
ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 21 excerpt.
The serving team attempted to claim the point since the ball wasn’t returned. Central to their argument was the idea that a player who can catch a ball was also ready to play it. However, per the letter of the rule, the receiver in this case did exactly the right thing to signal that her partner wasn’t ready.
The rule is also clear that the serve “shall not” be delivered until the receiver is ready. That also includes the receiver’s partner throughout this section of the rules.
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready.
ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 21 excerpt.
The USTA Friend at Court rulebook also includes an addendum called “The Code” that contains the unwritten rules of tennis. That section also addresses receiver readiness.
29. Receiver readiness. The receiver must play to the reasonable pace of the server. The receiver should make no effort to return a serve when the receiver is not ready. If a player attempts to return a serve (even if it is a “quick” serve), then the receiver (or receiving team) is presumed to be ready. The receiver may not become unready unless outside interference occurs.
USTA Friend at Court, The Code, Principle 29
Since no attempt was made to return the ball, it is evident from the letter of the law that the receiving team was clearly indicating that they were not ready. I have no idea why it was even remotely controversial.
The most important takeaway from this whole episode is this: Never underestimate the capacity of women’s weekday league play to generate drama.
The receiver did exactly the right thing if her partner was not ready.
If she had returned the ball, her opponents could have played on and the fact her partner was not ready would have been immaterial.
A player returning the ball signals the pair are ready to start the point.
A caveat to this might be if the receiving team was ready and then became “unready.” This happened to me while I was serving to a junior player on match point. It was clearly a tactic.
This came up during one of my matches this weekend and it is now penciled in as the topic for Wednesday 10/12.
Teresa,
I love your column and look forward to reading it! I was wondering if you ever write about foot faults.
I coach a high level of high school tennis and we have some pretty intense rivalries. Yesterday we were playing a match and my #3 girl’s opponent was foot faulting every single time she served. It’s kind of awkward for the young teenager to call a foot-fault. It’s really actually awkward for any opponent to call the foot fault. Most of the time I decide that the person has a weak serve and it doesn’t really matter. Yesterday it mattered and the opposing coach ignored it. I wish I had talked to the coach and told her to talk to her player, but with 6 singles matches to coach I was walking around like a chicken with my head cut off coaching all 6 change overs. The father of my #3 mentioned the foot faults and I realized the girl had a serve that went in rocket fast, with the wrong grip and she was way in the court as she hit the ball. My player lost 6-7, 7-6, 10-8. UGGH, who calls foot-faults- ?? Can you write about this rule please.
I plan to share my own thoughts on this on 10/19.