What's the Call
2009 Archive
August 2009 Edition
Question: Player A and Player B are about to start a match tiebreak to decide their hard-fought singles match. The position of the sun has cast a shadow across a section of the court that Player A finds distracting, so he asks Player B to move to another court to play the tiebreak. Player B refuses to switch courts. Is he within his right to refuse such a request?
Answer: Player B is well within his rights to refuse such a request by Player A. There is nothing in the rules permitting a player to call for a court change due to shadows. Shadows are not recognized as either a hindrance or unsafe playing condition. Note also that if the players were following the Coman Tiebreak Procedure, then they would be changing ends after the first point, then every four points thereafter, thus evening out any disadvantage created by the shadow.
July 2009 Edition
Question: Player A attempts to hit a ball during a point but the ball appears to bounce down and strike Player A's end of the court before crossing the net. Player A and Player B disagree on which side of the net the ball first bounced. Whose call is it?
Answer: In this scenario, it is Player B's call. Section 21 of the Code provides, in relevant part, that "a player shall make the ruling on a ball that the player's opponent hits into the ground before it goes over the net."
Got a question about the rules of tennis? Think you've been "greased" by your opponent during a match and just can't sleep until the issue is resolved? Go ahead and submit your question to "What's the Call?" at eric@ericperkinslaw.com. Sample questions and answers will be posted monthly.