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One of my photos for this month's Tour Portrait, reminded me of a rule puzzler I never figured out.
Back at Indian Wells in 2010, Ivan Ljubičić and Rafa had an odd exchange at the net. Roughly from memory: Ivan hit a cut volley than bounced from Rafa's side back to Ivan's. Per rules, that's the one case where a player can reach over the net to hit the ball-- which Rafa did. I've seen that several times.
But here's the odd thing I don't understand. Ivan was literally standing right in front of the ball on his side of the net when Rafa hit it. What is Ivan's obligation under hindrance rules, not to interfere with that shot? I assume Ivan could not hit the ball first. But could Ivan have gotten in a ready position with his racket face right in front of the ball, ready to hit Rafa's return, blocking the ball and Rafa's follow through? Is Ivan obligated to get out of the way, even on his side of the court?
The ITF simply says a hindrance must be deliberate, but that's clearly not how the 'Slams call them (ask Serena). The USTA has more detail.
https://www.usta.com/content/dam/ust.../2015_Code.pdf
Anyone know or care to guess?
And here is vid of Milos Raonic reaching over the net to hit a shot into the opponent's side of the net.
USTA via Web Archive
http://web.archive.org/web/201006280...r_the_net.aspx
Pic: Lopez reaching over the net at old Australian Open and getting point properly, just an example
filedata/fetch?id=89024&d=1591037680&type=thumb
Back at Indian Wells in 2010, Ivan Ljubičić and Rafa had an odd exchange at the net. Roughly from memory: Ivan hit a cut volley than bounced from Rafa's side back to Ivan's. Per rules, that's the one case where a player can reach over the net to hit the ball-- which Rafa did. I've seen that several times.
But here's the odd thing I don't understand. Ivan was literally standing right in front of the ball on his side of the net when Rafa hit it. What is Ivan's obligation under hindrance rules, not to interfere with that shot? I assume Ivan could not hit the ball first. But could Ivan have gotten in a ready position with his racket face right in front of the ball, ready to hit Rafa's return, blocking the ball and Rafa's follow through? Is Ivan obligated to get out of the way, even on his side of the court?
The ITF simply says a hindrance must be deliberate, but that's clearly not how the 'Slams call them (ask Serena). The USTA has more detail.
https://www.usta.com/content/dam/ust.../2015_Code.pdf
Anyone know or care to guess?
And here is vid of Milos Raonic reaching over the net to hit a shot into the opponent's side of the net.
USTA via Web Archive
http://web.archive.org/web/201006280...r_the_net.aspx
Pic: Lopez reaching over the net at old Australian Open and getting point properly, just an example
filedata/fetch?id=89024&d=1591037680&type=thumb