Player A hits a deep hard ball crosscourt just inside the near sideline. Player B barely makes a play on the ball and grunts what appears to be the word "OUT." Player A, in the meantime, is at the net ready to put the ball away and yells out "that ball was in, that ball was in" as SHE hits it crosscourt for a winner.
Hearing this, it appeared Player B made no attempt to re-engage the point. The chair umpire asks Player B what her call was and she responded she didn't call the ball out, but was grunting in an attempt to retrieve the good shot. The coaches of both players are on court when this situation transpires and get rather excited.
How would you rule:
a) Point to Player A since she put the ball away.
b) Overrule Player B although she said she didn't call the ball out when asked by the chair umpire.
c) Replay the point on the grounds Player B appeared to make an "OUT" call thereby interferring with Player A making the next shot.
d) Replay the point on the grounds that by Player A yelling out during the point she hindered Player B from continuing play.
e) Something else....
4 comments:
This is why we should all keep Herb Taylor's phone number on speed dial in our cell phones!
Point to Player A.
and if you have to choose a reason why, then (a).
anyway, if the ball was called out, then Player A would win the point on the overrule.
(b). Doesn't apply since player didn't call the ball out.
(c). Doesn't apply since you do not replay points in ITA.
(d). Ditto for (c). If it was a hinderance, then player loses point.
if 2 coaches were involved, then there were probably at least 3 solutions they argued.
Was player be a certain SMU Mustang who has a habit of her "grunts" at close balls soundinging like "out". Then if her return is good, she didn't call out, she grunted. If the return is bad or missed, she called "out". Was on court as a rover and witnessed this "grunting" more than once in a singles match. Curiously enough, in her doubles match the player never "grunted" in an attempt to reach and return close shots.
Sounds like there will be yet another new ITA rule next year against grunting as a form of gamesmanship...
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