A Question of Tennis

[Faisal]

Alright, so here is the scenario.
[thumb=H]tennisQ12052_2652317.JPG[/thumb]
They are playing doubles. Player A, plays a cross shot that was picked up from outside the court line by player C. His return lands inside the court, but it was low. So low that it would not have crossed the net, but made it through cz he had picked it from outside the court line and bypassed the net. Will the point go to C or to A?

[Miss_Mohabbat]

Re: A Question of Tennis

A

but depends on who player A and C are...

[ehsan]

Re: A Question of Tennis

The point should go to A.

[Faisal]

Re: A Question of Tennis

Would it make a difference if C's return was high enough to cross the net (but still bypassed the net)?

And what rule are we citing to not award the point to C? He picked up the ball and his return landed inside the court.

[Miss_Mohabbat]

Re: A Question of Tennis

The ball was picked up from outside the court, it was out.

[Faisal]

Re: A Question of Tennis

^ Oh come on!!! You routinely pick ball outside the court (at the back), especially if you are playing doubles.

[Mystery_Man]

Re: A Question of Tennis

As soon as the ball from Player A lands outside the court the line judge would call it out and that would be the end of the point. The point would go to Player C's team.

Is this a trick question?

MM

[kabirjeddy]

Re: A Question of Tennis

The point should go to A if the ball bounced in-bounds before being played by C. However, if C is playing the ball on the fly, then the point is clearly C's, since the ball hit by A would have landed out of bounds. However, it would depend on a bunch of things.

If this was at Wimbledon (or any Grand Slam match), it would be highly probable that the judge (umpire) would make the right call.

If this was at a casual game, it would depend on the integrity of those involved.

If the players were all desi's....a whole bunch of issues would be raised.
Age, gender and nationality would be a factor. In all likelihood, the match would end and everyone would go out for some samaos and chai.

[Faisal]

Re: A Question of Tennis

@Mystery Man

As soon as the ball from Player A lands outside the court the line judge would call it out and that would be the end of the point. The point would go to Player C’s team.

The shot from A was fine. It bounced off inside the court and then was picked up by player C, who then returned it from outside the courtline.

[ehsan]

Re: A Question of Tennis

@Faisal

Would it make a difference if C’s return was high enough to cross the net (but still bypassed the net)?

And what rule are we citing to not award the point to C? He picked up the ball and his return landed inside the court.

This actually happened at Wimbeldon this year. The return was high enough to cross the net and than landed inside the court. The point was awarded to C.

As to your point that why the point should not be awarded to C even though the ball landed in the court, because his return was low and would have hit the net.

[Faisal]

Re: A Question of Tennis

@ehsan

This actually happened at Wimbeldon this year. The return was high enough to cross the net and than landed inside the court. The point was awarded to C.

Thats what I thought (although I didn’t see it in Wimbledon). Even though the ball didn’t actually went over the net.

@ehsan

As to your point that why the point should not be awarded to C even though the ball landed in the court, because his return was low and would have hit the net.

I understand the point and the logic, but I am not sure which umpire will call it. The net is there for a reason, so how would the umpire estimate whether the ball would go over the net or not. The chair umpire can’t figure it out based on his position. And I can’t find any rule that applies to this situation.

The official rules 24 and 25 explain how a point is lost and won. Here you go

24. PLAYER LOSES POINT (OLD 18, 19, 20 & 40)

The point is lost if:

a. The player serves two consecutive faults; or
b. The player does not return the ball in play before it bounces twice
consecutively; or
c. The player returns the ball in play so that it hits the ground, or an
object, outside the correct court; or
d. The player returns the ball in play so that, before it bounces, it hits a
permanent fixture; or
e. The player deliberately carries or catches the ball in play on the racket
or deliberately touches it with the racket more than once; or
f. The player or the racket, whether in the player’s hand or not, or anything
which the player is wearing or carrying touches the net, net
posts/singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, or the opponent’s
court at any time while the ball is in play; or
g. The player hits the ball before it has passed the net; or
h. The ball in play touches the player or anything that the player is
wearing or carrying, except the racket; or
i. The ball in play touches the racket when the player is not holding it; or
j. The player deliberately and materially changes the shape of the racket
when the ball is in play; or
k. In doubles, both players touch the ball when returning it.

Case 1: After the server has served a first service, the racket falls out of
the server’s hand and touches the net before the ball has bounced. Is this a
service fault, or does the server lose the point?
Decision: The server loses the point because the racket touches the net
while the ball is in play.

Case 2: After the server has served a first service, the racket falls out of the
server’s hand and touches the net after the ball has bounced outside the correct
court. Is this a service fault, or does the server lose the point?
Decision. This is a service fault because when the racket touched the net
the ball was no longer in play.

Case 3. In a doubles match, the receiver’s partner touches the net before
the ball that has been served touches the ground outside the correct service
court. What is the correct decision?
Decision. The receiving team loses the point because the receiver’s partner
touched the net while the ball was in play.

Case 4: Does a player lose the point if an imaginary line in the extension of
the net is crossed before or after hitting the ball?
Decision: The player does not lose the point in either case provided the
player does not touch the opponent’s court.

Case 5. Is a player allowed to jump over the net into the opponent’s court
while the ball is in play?
Decision. No. The player loses the point.

Case 6. A player throws the racket at the ball in play. Both the racket and
the ball land in the court on the opponent’s side of the net and the opponent(s)
is unable to reach the ball. Which player wins the point?
Decision. The player who threw the racket at the ball loses the point.

Case 7. A ball that has just been served hits the receiver or in doubles the
receiver’s partner before it touches the ground. Which player wins the point?
Decision. The server wins the point, unless it is a service let.

Case 8. A player standing outside the court hits the ball or catches it before
it bounces and claims the point because the ball was definitely going out
of the correct court.
Decision. The player loses the point, unless it is a good return, in which
case the point continues.

25. A GOOD RETURN (OLD 24)

It is a good return if:

a. The ball touches the net, net posts/singles sticks, cord or metal
cable, strap or band, provided that it passes over any of them and
hits the ground within the correct court; except as provided in Rule
2 and 24 (d); or
b. After the ball in play has hit the ground within the correct court and
has spun or been blown back over the net, the player reaches over the
net and plays the ball into the correct court, provided that the player
does not break Rule 24; or
c. The ball is returned outside the net posts, either above or below the
level of the top of the net, even though it touches the net posts, provided
that it hits the ground in the correct court; except as provided
in Rules 2 and 24 (d); or
d. The ball passes under the net cord between the singles stick and the
adjacent net post without touching either net, net cord or net post and
hits the ground in the correct court, or
e. The player’s racket passes over the net after hitting the ball on the
player’s own side of the net and the ball hits the ground in the correct
court; or
f. The player hits the ball in play, which hits another ball lying in the
correct court.

Case 1: A player returns a ball which then hits a singles stick and hits the
ground in the correct court. Is this is a good return?
Decision: Yes. However, if the ball is served and hits the singles stick, it is
a service fault.

Case 2: A ball in play hits another ball which is lying in the correct court.
What is the correct decision?
Decision: Play continues. However, if it is not clear that the actual ball in
play has been returned, a let should be called.

[ahmadjee]

Re: A Question of Tennis

I wanna say the ball has to cross over the net, not pass by it, no matter the height.

[Faisal]

Re: A Question of Tennis

@ahmadjee

I wanna say the ball has to cross over the net, not pass by it, no matter the height.

That seems logical, but as ehsan pointed out, not necessarily true. Plus, I can’t find a rule which says that the ball has to cross over the net. Can you quote a rule that says it? Ofcourse, its a fairly rare occurance, but since it happened yesterday, so I am curious.

[Faisal]

Re: A Question of Tennis

Infact, what do you make of this?

*Rule 25 A GOOD RETURN *
It is a good return if:

c. The ball is returned outside the net posts, either above or below the
level of the top of the net, even though it touches the net posts, provided
that it hits the ground in the correct court; except as provided
in Rules 2 and 24 (d); or