[tennisbiz] Re: gamesmanship and the "super" tiebreak

While my competitive experience is limited to 20 years in USTA adult leagues
and various club tournaments, The Code is clear that the opponents ALWAYS
gets the benefit of the doubt. Similarly, The Code states that matches shall
be played at the pace of the server -- although the receiver must have the
opportunity to clear a ball before the second serve.

What you describe is gamesmanship. If my opponent repeatedly took the amount
of time you describe to clear a ball between first and second serves, I would
summon an official and request a first serve each time the opponent repeated
those actions. It's like playing someone who repeatedly and conspicuously
footfaults. You can ask them to stop. If they don't, call an official.

Regarding the "super" tiebreak, it is a joke. Initially implemented by the
senior tour to speed play, it has been embraced by the USTA to make the cash
registers ring more loudly. It is not real tennis; it turns a mile run into
a 100 yard dash. How many years will it be before we simply spin a racquet
to decide the outcome -- that's even quicker.

Of course, that's just my opinion.

Lawrence Jeziak
TV writer
Tennis Week and AOL
 
Received on Fri Apr 19 2002 - 11:07:51 CDT