What's The Call?

Certified USPTA P1, USTA Official, and USTA Referee

Bio

Katrina grew up in Durham, NC playing competitive junior tournaments. She held junior rankings as high as #1 in doubles, #2 in Singles in NC, #1 Doubles, #20 in Singles in the South, #77 in Singles and #5 in Doubles in the Nation. Katrina earned a tennis scholarship from North Carolina State University and graduated in 2003. Prior to coming to NHC in April 2006, Katrina was the Head Tennis Pro at Southern Village Racquet & Swim Club in Chapel Hill, NC for 2 1/2 years.

Tennis Honors

'94 & '95 Girls Doubles Southern Closed Champion
'95 & '96 State High School Doubles Champions with sister, Marissa
Tennis Family of the Year '94 & '98
Played #1 and #2 Singles and #1 Doubles senior year at NCSU.
Co-Captain Women's Tennis at NCSU
2005 5.5/Open National League Finalist

Send your tennis rules questions to Katrina at info@raleightennis.com.

What's The Call?

This situation happened at the N.C. State Closed Junior Tournament during one of my son's doubles matches. I am interested in knowing your (official or "unofficial") opinion as to the ethics or sportsmanship of the following situation. When a team is receiving serve, the rules state that both players can position themselves anywhere on or off the court. Is it considered bad sportsmanship or a hindrance for the non-receiving player (B) to position himself at the (T) and bounce his head/body into the receiving players (A) service box? "What's the Call?"

Posted 08/08/08

Ruling: It is considered bad sportsmanship and a hindrance. "The server's partner and receiver's partner may take any positions on their own side of of the net, inside or outside the court. However, if a player is creating a hindrance to the opponent(s), the hindrance rule should be used.

I had an incident come up last week when I was playing a doubles match. When I was ready to receive serve on the deuce side, my partner was standing on the ad side service line. She was hit by our opponent's serve. Our opponent said that they won the point eventhough my partner was standing outside of the deuce side service box (out of bounds). Were they correct?

Posted 04/22/08

Ruling: She was correct if the serve hit her out of the air, without a bounce. The serve has to hit the ground first to tell if it was "in" or "out" even if it is obviously going to be out.

Recently, some players were discussing various types of strategies to use during an upcoming USTA League match that might throw their opponents off their game. During the discussion, the merit of throwing in a soft underhand serve with under spin was mentioned. There wasn't consensus on whether this strategy is within the rules. As a result, one of the players posed the question re the legality of serving underhand & whether they'd be accused of cheating.

Also, "What would be the ruling if someone did this as a 'quick serve' to surprise the opponent to try to win the point?" The tactic employed by the Server certainly could be classified under the category of being somewhat "underhanded".

Posted 11/16/07

Ruling: Underhand serves are legal. Many players use underhand serves to give their opponents a different look (throw their opponents off) or when they get nervous. It is not considered cheating, unless a player quick serves their opponent. The receiver must be ready.

In the middle of a point, I accidentally called a ball "out" that landed on the baseline. I played the ball, and my groundstroke landed "in" on my opponent's side of the court. I made the correction, but my opponent claimed he should have the point because I made a bad call, and I wanted to play a let. Who is correct?

Posted 08/08/07

Ruling: In an unofficiated match, if a person's ball lands in after they accidentally called the ball out you would play a let. If a person's ball lands out after they accidentally called they ball out you would not play a let.

My question involves the let cord situation. If the server hits a serve and hears a let cord, can the server make the call? If not, what is done if the receiver plays the serve and does not call a let, even though the server has stopped play because they believe a let has occurred? What's the Call?

Posted 02/22/07

Ruling: The server and receiver may call a let if they hear a let cord off a service.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HEAT RELATED TIME OUTS. I WAS IN A USTA 4.0 REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AND MY OPPONENT AND I JUST FINISHED THE SECOND SET. WHEN I WENT TO TAKE A BREAK AND SIT DOWN THE COURT UMPIRE TOLD ME WE WERE TO CONTINUE PLAY AND GO RIGHT INTO THE THIRD SET. THIS WAS THE YEAR WE STARTED PLAYING TIE BREAKERS INSTEAD OF A FULL THIRD SET. AT THE TIME I WAS EXHAUSTED. IT HAD TO BE OVER 100 DEGREES ON THE COURT AND I FELT ILL. I NEEDED A BREAK AND I NEEDED TO COOL DOWN. I WENT AHEAD AND PLAYED THE 3RD SET TIE BREAK AND OF COURSE I LOST. WHAT WERE MY OPTIONS IN THIS SITUATION AND WAS THAT THE CORRECT RULING. What's the Call?

Posted 01/10/07

Ruling:

"When playing a tiebreak in lieu of a third set, players are allowed a two minute break after the second set. Before the match starts the Referee may grant a 10 minute rest period after the second set if there is extreme heat or humidity."

If you played out the third set, you would be given a 10-minute rest period. Many of the leagues and USTA tournaments have gone to a tiebreak in lieu of a third set due to time constraints. If needed, you are allowed to take a medical time-out which would consist of evaluation time by the referee plus a maximum of three minutes for treatment. A medical time-out, however, is not for general player fatigue. It would have to be accompanied by cramps, vomiting, blisters, dizziness or other similar treatable conditions.