NYTimes Revisits Historic Raintree Match

On Sept. 24, 1984, Richmond's Raintree club saw a 29-minute, 643-shot rally that remains the longest point played in professional tennis. The Times' article includes interviews with Richmond sports writer John Packett and Raintree owner Hugh Waters and begins, "As the 642nd shot of the rally floated high above her head, Vicki Nelson decided it was time to go for a winner."

Read the full article.

Sept 2009 - What's the Call?

Question: I was playing a singles match when my opponent and I lost track of the set score. I thought it was 5-3, but my opponent thought it was 4-4. We were not sure where we got mixed up, but we did agree that it was 3-3 at one time, so we just played from there. Did we do the right thing?

Answer: Yes you did. There is a 3-step process for resolving scoring disputes such as this. First, you try to figure out which point or game is in dispute and just replay that point or game. If you can’t agree on that, then you go back the last score that you both agree on and resume play from there (which is what you did). Believe it or not, the rules say that if you still can’t resolve the dispute after going through steps 1 and 2, the final step is to flip a coin to resolve the dispute.

Got a question about the rules of tennis?
Think you've been "greased" by your opponent during a match and just can't sleep until the issue is resolved? Go ahead and submit your question to "What's the Call?" at eric@ericperkinslaw.com. Sample questions and answers will be posted monthly.

RTA's 2009 US Open Raffle Winner

"Trip of a Lifetime Travelogue"

When Hugh Waters called to announce that I had won the raffle for two to the US Open, my first comment was " Is this a joke? I've never won anything in my life." I recalled it had been a long time since I had sponsored the first Virginia Slims Ladies tournament in Richmond.

What a pleasant surprise for Nancy and me. We both looked forward to traveling to New York City to enjoy this memorable experience. Sheri Crowell made all the travel and transportation arrangements as well as helping with reservations at Grand Hyatt (where some of the tennis players were staying).

Our special passes allowed us to enter the Billie Jean Tennis Center at the front of the long line waiting for the evening's matches on Friday evening. We promenaded the open areas around the stadiums where there were many food vendors as well as the Open Club for a sit-down buffet. Several famous brand clothiers were selling shoes, sweaters, tennis gear, etc. Our seats in the Arthur Ash Stadium allowed an excellent opportunity to watch some great matches -- Nadal and Kiefer, Frederer and Hewitt, Venus Williams and Rybarikova. We joined the cheers for Melanie Oudin's success.

On Saturday, we were fortunate to be guests of Shima and Joe Grover (Vice President of USTA). Our view was unobstructed from the Presidential box seats. The Presidential suite was a large air-conditioned lounge with several TVs in the event we did not want to sit outside to watch the matches. Refreshments were available throughout the day and evening sessions. Following a gourmet lunch in the President's dining room, Shima Grover conducted a tour of the Stadium. Her intimate knowledge gave us insights into the tremendous planning and personnel needed to conduct the Open.

After the matches, Nancy and I used our voucher to dine at the Capitol Grille near our hotel. We also explored other wonderful restaurants in the city, where it's difficult to get a bad meal. We felt especially fortunate to have special transportation to and from the Center as well as to and from the hotel and airport.

Nancy and I are grateful to the RTA for their gracious and generous arrangements. We are fans of all their incentives, especially the Quick Start Programs for youngsters.

- John Baronian
- A. Nancy Avakian

Aug 2009 - What's the Call

Question: Player A and Player B are about to start a match tiebreak to decide their hard-fought singles match. The position of the sun has cast a shadow across a section of the court that Player A finds distracting, so he asks Player B to move to another court to play the tiebreak. Player B refuses to switch courts. Is he within his right to refuse such a request?

Answer: Player B is well within his rights to refuse such a request by Player A. There is nothing in the rules permitting a player to call for a court change due to shadows. Shadows are not recognized as either a hindrance or unsafe playing condition. Note also that if the players were following the Coman Tiebreak Procedure, then they would be changing ends after the first point, then every four points thereafter, thus evening out any disadvantage created by the shadow.

Got a question about the rules of tennis?
Think you've been "greased" by your opponent during a match and just can't sleep until the issue is resolved? Go ahead and submit your question to "What's the Call?" at eric@ericperkinslaw.com. Sample questions and answers will be posted monthly.

McDonalds Mid-Atlantic $30,000 Championships Underway

by Charles Tilley

The USTA-MAS McDonald's Men's and Women's Open Clay Court $30,000 Championships began earlier this week at Salisbury Country Club. This is a high level tournament carrying cash prizes for the winners It is open to all Mid-Atlantic residents, pulling players from Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Most semi-finals will take place on Friday and many finals will occur on Saturday. Scott Steinour, head pro at Salisbury, is overseeing the tournament, which has many local players, both adults and juniors competing. However, as the tournament has progressed, only high level players remain in the draws.

Some players to look for on Friday in the Men's Singles are Sanam Singh, a current U.V.A. tennis player who has experience with the Indian Davis Cup team, and David McNamara, an accomplished ATP Tour (professional) doubles player with 13 titles to his name and a competitor in the 2000 Australian Open. There are certainly other top-notch players in the men's field. On the women's side Petra Rampre, a Slovenian native who has amassed 302 WTA match wins, and Shadisha Robinson, a former University of Georgia player ranked #1 in doubles in #6 in singles in the ITA (collegiate) rankings, are competing. Spectators are both welcome and expected out at Salisbury.

Match Schedules (all times p.m.):

• Men's Singles: Semi-finals at 5:00 on Friday, Finals at 6:00 on Saturday.
• Women's Singles: Semi-finals at 4:00 on Friday, Finals at 4:00 on Saturday.
• Men's Doubles: Semi-finals at 7:00 on Thursday, Finals at 8:00 on Friday.
• Women's Doubles: Semi-finals at 6:00 on Thursday, Finals at 6:00 on Friday.
• Mixed Doubles: Semi-finals at 9:00 on Thursday, Finals at 8:00 on Saturday.

Richmond Tennis Hall of Fame

In 1990 the Richmond Tennis Association (then the Richmond Tennis Patrons Association) established and inducted the first class of the Richmond Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1995 a second class was inducted, and a third in 1997. Since 1997 the Hall of Fame has been dormant and there have been no new inductees. WELL NO LONGER!

The RTA has decided to reinstate the Hall of Fame! In fact the RTA has already elected eight new members for the 2009 class who will be announced publicly at the finals of the McDonalds Mid-Atlantic Open Clay Court Championships July 18th. The induction ceremony will be Oct. 24 at Westwood Racket Club.

To be considered, a person or institution must have a minimum of 10 years of contribution to Richmond tennis. In the player category, the individual must have established outstanding competitive achievements with consideration given to sportsmanship and character. In the non-player category, the individual or entity must have made outstanding contributions within the capital city area with consideration given to dedication to the game.

Prior inductees are:

1990

Arthur Ashe, Sr.
Arthur Ashe, Jr.
Dorothy Chewning
Louis Einwick
Samuel Woods
Crestar Bank
Fidelity Bankers Life Insurance Co.

1995

Susan Cain
Harold Burrows
Waller Horsley
Robert Leitch, Sr.
John Watson
Thalhimers Stores

1997

Jerry DePew
Frank Maloney
Massie Valentine
Home Beneficial Life Insurance co.

July 2009 - What's the Call

Question: Player A attempts to hit a ball during a point but the ball appears to bounce down and strike Player A's end of the court before crossing the net. Player A and Player B disagree on which side of the net the ball first bounced. Whose call is it?

Answer: In this scenario, it is Player B's call. Section 21 of the Code provides, in relevant part, that "a player shall make the ruling on a ball that the player's opponent hits into the ground before it goes over the net."

Got a question about the rules of tennis?
Think you've been "greased" by your opponent during a match and just can't sleep until the issue is resolved? Go ahead and submit your question to "What's the Call?" at eric@ericperkinslaw.com. Sample questions and answers will be posted monthly.