ITF Rules and Officiating 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A player hits a ball that strikes their opponent's body before bouncing. What is the correct ruling?
- The point is replayed as a let
- The player who hit the ball wins the point (Correct answer)
- The player who was hit wins the point
- The chair umpire awards the point based on trajectory
Correct answer: The player who hit the ball wins the point
If a ball hits an opponent before bouncing, the player who struck the ball wins the point.
Question 2: During a tiebreak at 6-6, players change ends after every how many points?
- Every 2 points
- Every 4 points
- Every 6 points (Correct answer)
- Every 8 points
Correct answer: Every 6 points
During a tiebreak, players change ends after every 6 points, and then after every 6 subsequent points.
Question 3: A player wins a tiebreak 7-5. What is the score recorded for that set?
- 7-5
- 6-6
- 7-6 (Correct answer)
- 6-7
Correct answer: 7-6
A set won by tiebreak is recorded as 7-6 regardless of the tiebreak score.
Question 4: What is a 'foot fault' in tennis according to ITF rules?
- Stepping on the baseline before the serve lands in the box
- Touching or crossing the baseline or center mark before the ball is struck on a serve (Correct answer)
- Hitting the net post with the foot during a return
- Sliding into the court beyond the service line
Correct answer: Touching or crossing the baseline or center mark before the ball is struck on a serve
A foot fault occurs when the server touches or crosses the baseline or center mark before making contact with the ball.
Question 5: A player verbally abuses the chair umpire after a disputed call. Under the ITF Code of Conduct, what is the first penalty applied?
- Default from the match
- Loss of a set
- Loss of a game
- A warning with no point penalty (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A warning with no point penalty
The first code violation for verbal abuse results in a warning; subsequent violations escalate to point, game, and match penalties.
Question 6: In doubles, both partners attempt to return the same ball and one of them hits it. What is the ruling?
- The point is replayed as a let
- The return is legal if only one racket makes contact (Correct answer)
- Both players touching the ball results in a loss of point
- The team is warned for unsportsmanlike conduct
Correct answer: The return is legal if only one racket makes contact
In doubles, only one player's racket may make contact with the ball; if only one partner hits it, the return is legal.
Question 7: Under ITF rules, what happens if the wrong player serves in doubles?
- The point is replayed with the correct server
- All points played stand, and the serving order is corrected going forward (Correct answer)
- The games are replayed from when the error began
- The opponents are awarded the game
Correct answer: All points played stand, and the serving order is corrected going forward
Any points played with the wrong server stand; the error is corrected as soon as discovered and the correct order resumes.
ITF Rules and Officiating 3
A player hits a ball that strikes their opponent's body before bouncing.
What is the correct ruling?