The ITF Rules of Tennis includes a detailed appendix that describes procedures for inspection of ball marks for line call verification when tennis matches are played on clay. Today we are examining what happens if the line umpire or chair umpire can’t find the mark. Additionally, this rule also covers the situation when the actual mark is not readable.
The original call or overrule will always stand if the line umpire and chair umpire cannot determine the location of the mark or if the mark is unreadable.
Appendix VI, Ball Mark Inspection Procedures, ITF Rules of Tennis, USTA Friend at Court
There are a variety of factors that could make it difficult to accurately locate the mark on the court. If the court hasn’t been swept in awhile, it might be difficult to pick out the correct mark if a lot of balls had previously landed in that general area. If there is any debris on the court, such as leaves, then that might also obscure where the ball bounced.
A comment last week from Allan Thompson provided another example where the mark might be unreadable. The line sweeping devices can “over clean” the line and inadvertently brush the clay away from the side of the line. That can also make a edge of a ball mark indiscernible. Professional crews are trained to make sure that if over cleaning occurs, it is on the inside of the line.
Finally, a practice match I played on clay last weekend provided me with a photo op for one more way where a ball mark could be inconclusive. The baseline of the tennis court extends beyond the sideline in all four corners of the court. That would make it impossible to detect the edge of the ball mark in those corners. Of course, the same thing could occur if the court was being used for singles, as the baseline continues into the doubles alley.
In any case, if the ball mark cannot be located or read, then the point stands as called or as overruled. This provision is likely in the procedures to make it clear that there is no “let” or replay of the point should that transpire.
