Over the years we have been asked these questions, and we thought you might find the answers helpful.

 Q.    In doubles, my partner serves the ball and it brushes top of the net and goes over. It lands in the service box.  Who may call a let?

A.     Any player may call a let. When called on a serve, that serve is replayed, i.e., if  it is the first server, 2 serves shall be taken. If it is the second serve, only 1 serve shall be taken.

(See page 106 of USTA book Friend at Court)

Q.      During a singles match I hit a shot and my opponent catches the ball before it hits the ground while he is standing behind the baseline.  Whose point is this?

A.      It is your point.  If a ball hits a player before touching the court, that player loses the point, even if the player is standing behind the baseline.

Q.      My opponent is about to hit a shot when a ball rolls on my opponent’s side of the court from the adjoining court.  Can I call a let on this?

A.      Yes.  Remember any player may call a let.  The call must be made immediately.

Q.      This question came up recently during the U.S. Open.  Who was the only player in history to win the U.S. Open on three different surfaces?

A.      Jimmy Connors.  He has won the U.S. Open on clay, grass, and hard courts.  Ask your friends and see if you can stump them on this one.

Q.      What is the correct procedure for handling a disagreement between opponents concerning the game score?

A.      Opponents should calmly try to recreate, in their mind, every point played in that game from the beginning.  When they get to the point that they either don’t remember or disagree on, they must go back to the score at a point where they do agree and continue from that point. This could mean beginning the game from the first point.  In any event the players must continue from the last point on which they agree on the score. (For more information refer to USTA Friend at Court page 106- 3b.)

Q.      I have any injury. Do I ice or heat?

A.      This is a very common question. Pain from an injury comes from inflammation of the muscle, tendon, or soft tissue.  Ice will decrease blood circulation which will decrease the inflammation, thus the pain will subside.  Heat will increase blood circulation leading to more inflammation and pain.  Once the inflammation (pain) has been eliminated, then moist heat should be applied to relax the muscle or joint as well as bring fresh tissue to repair the injured area.  Most injuries require 48 to 72 hours of ice 3 to 5 times a day; 10 minutes at a time.  Once the swelling is gone, then start adding 10 minutes of moist heat after the 10 minutes of ice for 5 to 10 days.  Last, just moist heat as needed to keep injured area relaxed and increase blood flow to the area.

Q.      My partner and I arrive for league play on time.  One of my opponents is not on court for the warm up.  What should my partner and I do? 

A.      You have a choice.  You may choose to warm up with the one opponent, OR, you may choose to warm up with your partner and ask your opponent to wait for her partner.  

Q.      I hit a ball to my opponent.  I think the ball has bounced twice on his side of the court before he has hit it.  My opponent hits the ball back to me and wins the point.  Can I call the double bounce?

A.      No.  All calls on the opponent’s side of the net are to be made by him.  You may ask if the ball bounced twice but you cannot reverse your opponent’s call.

Q.      While playing a match, a ball from my court rolls onto the court next to me.  Should I call a let for the players on that court?

A.      No. You cannot call this let.  The players on the adjoining court are responsible for calling the let. They may choose to continue play or call a let.

Q.      My opponent serves a ball.  I call it out, then immediately reverse my call and return the ball into the opponent’s court. My opponent had stopped, thinking I called it out.  What should we do?

A.      The point is replayed.  If a player mistakenly calls a ball out and then realizes it was good, the point is replayed if he returned the ball to his opponent’s court.   If the player failed to make a return, (i.e., opponent hit an ace or you could not return the serve), then the opponent wins the point.  

Q.      In doubles, who calls the lines on serves, my partner the receiver), or me?

A.      In doubles the receiver’s partner should call the service line and the receiver should call the side line and center service line.  Nonetheless, either partner may call a ball she clearly sees.  Remember, when in doubt or if partners disagree on the call, the call is in the opponent’s favor.

Q.      How much time is allowed between points and games?  My opponent seems to take so long between points.

A.      We had to check the Friend at Court book for this one.  The official time between points is 25 seconds.  “The time which shall elapse from the moment the ball goes out of play at the end of the point to the time the ball is struck (for the next point) shall not exceed 25 seconds.”  The time between games is 90 seconds.  At the conclusion of each set, 120 seconds is allowed.

Q.      My partner serves a game and we realize after the first 2 points that I should be serving that game.  What should we do?

A.      If a partner serves out of turn, the partner who ought to have served shall serve as soon as the mistake is discovered, but all points scored, and any faults served before such discovery, shall stand.  If a game has been completed before discovery, the order of service remains as altered. 

Q.      During a singles match, a ball rolls out of my pocket onto the court.  Can I call a let?

A.      No.  Because the ball was in your pocket, it is considered part of your clothing and it is your responsibility to control it.  Your opponent, however, may call a let on this if he is distracted by it.  The let call must be made immediately.  This situation is the same as if you are wearing a hat and it flies off your head while you are playing a point.  Anything on your body that comes off while playing cannot be called a let by you.