Refusing to sign a scorecard
Should a player refuse to sign a match scorecard when there is something to protest, such as the identity of an opposing player?
Rusty Jones, Senior Day Leagues Vice President
According to the ALTA Captain/Member Handbook, signing the scorecard verifies that the match was played and that the players’ names and scores were recorded. If a player wishes to protest an issue — such as the identity of an opposing player or a disputed score — the player must notify his/her coordinator through a comment on the scorecard itself or immediate direct communication (email, phone call, etc.).
On page 32 of the handbook:
- Carefully review all information: dates played, names of players, and scores.
- Select Approve, unless you find any discrepancies, then select Disputed.
- Explain the nature of the dispute in the comment box.
- Click Save.
- Any Captains who fail to review the scorecard and, instead, let the card auto-approve (48 hours), may not discover errors until it is too late to correct them.
- Scorecards are final 10 days after the matches are completed.
Allowed to call a let?
During a doubles match, a ball from the neighboring court rolled onto our court behind my partner while we were in the middle of a rally. I saw the ball and, fearing my partner would trip, I yelled “LET!” and stopped play. My opponents argued that since the ball wasn’t near the person hitting the shot and didn’t interfere with the flight of the tennis ball, the point should stand. Were we allowed to call a let?
Drew Meyer, Men’s League Vice President
According to USTA Friend at Court, The Code, Section 18, page 39, “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.”
You do not have to wait for the ball to actually trip someone or interfere with a swing. If the ball creates a safety hazard or a legitimate distraction, the let should be called promptly. It is always better to prioritize player safety over a single point. In this case, because the ball entered the field of play during the rally, the point should be replayed.
On whose authority?
My team made it to playoffs! Our line two pair split sets and played a super tiebreak to determine the match because one of the opponents needed to leave to catch a flight. The captain said since only two courts were available and they needed to keep things moving, they had to play the tiebreak. Is this true?
Candace Cole, Thursday Women’s League Vice President
It was very considerate of your players to accommodate the opponent’s time constraint and decide the match on the court. However, the authority to shorten a match does not rest with the captain.
Per the ALTA General Rules – Adult Leagues, Section IV (Dual Meets):
“During regular season match play, a 10-point tiebreak shall be played to decide a split-set match unless all players involved agree to play a full third set. During playoffs and City Finals matches, a full third set shall be played to decide a split-set match unless all players involved agree to play a 10-point tiebreak. (Additionally, during playoffs and City Finals, the President or League VP has the authority to require that a 10-point tiebreak be played to decide a split-set match.) The Senior Leagues and Senior Day Leagues are a little different.
“FOR THE SENIOR LEAGUES ONLY (Senior Mixed, Senior Men/Women and Senior Day Women/Men): For regular-season and post-season match play, a 10-point tiebreak shall be played to decide a split-set match unless all players involved agree to play a full third set.” (Note: The default option remains the 10-point tiebreak even in the postseason.)
Remember, the players themselves must agree to any change in format. A team captain does not have the authority to override that decision. So, unless all four players agreed — or the League VP/President required it — they were not obligated to play the super tiebreak.
