Last weekend I played in a USTA men’s open singles tournament for the first time in several years. One of the reasons I had stopped entering these events was because I had grown tired of all the disputed line calls both by my opponents and myself. So sure enough, in my 2nd round match while serving for the 1st set at 5-4, 30-40, my opponent hit a return that I called out, but he claimed hit the line.
Was I right? I thought so, and that’s all that really mattered since it was my call and I had a mark to prove it.
Could I have been wrong? Absolutely. But that’s part of the game and you have to move on to the next point. My opponent couldn’t and his lapse in concentration not only cost him to lose the 1st set, but let me jump out to an insurmountable lead in the 2nd set. What should he, and anyone else who feels cheated, do in a situation like that?
Try this:
Give your opponent the benefit of the doubt: If you’re playing someone who seems to be making questionable calls on a lot of big points, then you must say something to an official. But if it’s an isolated instance in an otherwise clean match, you’re better off just shaking it off. You could have just as easily been wrong, not to mention there may have been points in which your opponent judged a close call in your favor.
Realize it’s only one point: I didn’t win the five previous games because of that one disputed call. In fact, the score was only deuce, and my opponent still had an excellent chance to play two good points and break serve. Don’t look at one call, or point, as the reason you lost a set or match. Put it behind you and focus on what’s up next, and not what’s in the past.
Control your destiny: My opponent had squandered a 0-40 lead including an easy forehand sitter at 15-40. He should have won that point, the game should have been his, and he knew it. A big reason why he may have insisted that the ball was in is because of his frustration after letting a huge opportunity to even the match slip away. Instead, he would have been better off telling himself to set up another easy forehand–only this time he would finish the point. Once you start hoping and wishing for calls instead of making things happen, the match rarely turns out in your favor.