Slip Sliding Away
In a recent away USTA league singles match (3.5 level), my opponent’s racquet slipped out of his hand and flew into the next court, causing a commotion. Should we have stopped play immediately or finished the point?
—Allen Secrist, Greenpoint, N.Y.
Dropping or otherwise losing control of a racquet is no different from slipping and falling on the court. It’s unfortunate, but the point should have been completed, and then the player allowed appropriate time to retrieve his racquet.
Ups and Downs
In a recent USTA mixed doubles match, a racquet flew over from an adjacent court, striking my partner in the head just as I was about to hit a smash on match point. My partner fell to the ground, dropping his racquet, but neither racquet touched the net. I framed the smash, but it went in, and our opponents returned it. My partner wobbled to his feet and hit a drop volley winner, but he did it with the racquet from the other court, which he had accidentally picked up. Our opponents claimed that the flying racquet was a hindrance, and that it was illegal for my partner to use it, but we argued that they should have asked for a let immediately, rather than after the point had ended. I should say, “I argued,” because my partner collapsed right after hitting that winner. The roving umpire sided with our opponents, and we had to default as my partner was rushed away on a gurney before we could replay the point. (Okay, they were probably right, but I just can’t give a call to Joe, the man on the other team, who’s made more bad line calls over the years. Guy’s got the worst eyes in the county. Shouldn’t be allowed to drive if you ask me.)
—Ellen Langer, Spencertown, N.Y.
Where to begin? On the one hand, you’re right, they should have stopped play immediately. On the other hand, using the racquet from the other court was a violation of Rule 451, which states that, “New racquets may not be introduced to play during a point.” (This is from the recently added section “Things That Surely Will Never Come to Pass, But Which Ought to Be Addressed Anyway Because, Hey, You Never Know.”) The roving umpire made the right call, sorry to say.
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
I think my husband might have intentionally thrown his racquet at one of my mixed doubles opponents during a recent USTA league match. He was playing a singles match on the court next to me when his racquet flew into our court and hit one of my opponents in the head. The gentleman fell, but he got up and continued the point; an official later ruled that we should have played a let and we won the match when the gentleman collapsed and couldn’t continue. Anyway, no one saw my husband throw his racquet, but when my opponent got up off the ground, I saw my husband scold himself, “You idiot! Throw it like you mean it!” He then pantomimed throwing his racquet and yelled, “Follow through! Of course the guy’s gonna get back up if you don’t follow through!” All eyes were on our fallen opponent, so I’m the only person who saw or heard my husband. What should I do?
—Kate O’Neill, Hudson, N.Y.
Our attorneys advise us that we can’t comment on this matter.
Raindrops Keep Falling…
A few years back, I was playing a grass-court match that was interrupted twice by rain. By the time we finished, it was very dark, and we could barely see the ball. Now, I ask you: Is that fair?
—R.F., Basel, Switzerland
How best to contend with rain and waning light are two issues that must be decided by the referee. Maybe you’d be happier playing on an indoor court, or one with a retractable roof?
Long Arm of the Law
I’ve been interviewing a number of people involved in the case of a thrown racquet in a USTA league match and everybody seems to have their own very distinct opinion of what happened. (The victim just woke up from a coma and has no interest in pressing charges, he just wants a rematch against those “cheating [expletives deleted].”) In 35 years on the job, I’ve never encountered such a hornet’s nest of pent-up hostilities, long-held resentments, and perceived injustices. And I used to oversee an anti-gang task force.
—Detective Frank Callaghan, Albany, N.Y.
You sound like a seasoned observer of the human condition, Detective. But, clearly, you’ve never played tennis.