During the recent Davis Cup doubles match, America vs. the Serbs, there was a very 
interesting ruling by the Chair, Pascal Maria (France) that came at a critical, set-point during a tie breaker.
American Bob Bryan was serving, in the third set, with the teams having split the first two sets and was down 5-6 and set point. The Serbian add court player hit his return down the middle and John Isner (subbing for a sick Mike Bryan) let the ball go; and it landed IN.
As the Serbs were celebrating the set victory, Isner challenged the point, saying that the deuce court Serb, Zimonjic, the world’s top ranked doubles player, had pointed his finger up, indicating he thought the serve was “Long”.
Even though the serve WAS called Good by the linesman – Pascal Maria had seen the Serb make his gesture and ruled that the pointing was “a hindrance” … and awarded the point to the Americans!
The Americans then went on to win that tiebreaker for the third set and then won the fourth and deciding set.
“The referee was right, and I made a mistake,” said Zimonjic. “All the credit to the Americans, who served real well and handled the pressure perfectly.”
HEY HOW ABOUT MY TALKING POINT? Remember my question earlier about your opponent talking while the ball was on his/their side of the net? Why isn’t that the same hindrance????
I’d say that was a good call!!!!!
Zimonjic’s response was exceptional (and surprising); he deserves full credit for his sportsmanship.
George- in response to your “Talking Point” earlier, my reaction is that there can be a lot of technical niceties in interpreting rules but I would say:
a) when in doubt, play the ball, and
b) the point is over when either the ball has bounced twice or if the ball strikes outside the line or hits the net
Play (at least ideally) should be within the spirit of sportsmanship and hard competition. Most of us know when someone is deliberately exercising gamesmanship to win in an unfair way. Still it remains somewhat vague, as has been said elsewhere … ‘I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it.’
-Dag
Dag – I agree… and 98% of the tournament players are “straight”. geo
The serve or any point is considered stoppage of play as soon as a player calls the ball out.
Talking is clear, if you talk after the ball has left your racket you can be called for a hindrance and if the opposing player catches the ball he can claim the point on a voice hindrance.
Bill – Yup … and i know one tournament player who “groans” after he returns serve; and it sounds like “nooooooo”. ps congrats on your recent tournament victory! geo