This past weekend, I hung out with some of my tennis pals, and we got into a discussion about something that happened to one of them during a doubles league match last week.
One of their opponents mis-hit an overhead off her racquet frame, resulting in a loopy floater that was obviously headed out. She knew it, too, and cussed out loud, but that wasn't the issue. Since they were playing on a court adjacent to another line's match, my friend moved out wide so she could stop the ball from going into the next court. Before the ball even bounced, a ball from the neighboring court rolled into their net on my friend's side. The opponents immediately called a let and demanded to replay the point, however, my friends felt that no let should be given. After all, the ball was hit before the ball came onto the court, and it landed nearly 3 feet out!
So... who is right?
This one is covered in the 2019 Friend At Court Handbook of Rules and Regulations:
Rule #18: Let called when ball rolls on court.
When a ball from another court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball. The player loses the right to call a let if the player unreasonably delays in making the call.
Sooooooooo... Even though the opponent who hit the ball verbally recognized her error before before the other ball rolled into the net, she and her partner were still entitled to a let and to replay the point (two serves), which they did.
I know the rules apply to everyone, even those in the "friend at court" handbook, but this one is just way too vague. Had I been the opponent, I would have just let it go. I clearly hit a crappy shot, and the ball that rolled into the net didn't bother anyone.
But that's just me... what do you think? Does that rule need to be more specific, or removed, or is it fine the way it is? Inquiring minds wanna know, so tell us in the comments below :-)
