Do you hate it when you feel your opponent makes a bad call?  Does it get under your skin and ruin the next few points for you, or even the match?

Unfortunately 99.9% of us reading this do not have linesmen calling the ball in or out during our matches. I always advise players to expect at least 2-3 bad calls per match. If you think you hit a ball in and your opponent calls it out, you have to get it out of your mind quickly and move on to the next point. How many times have you seen a pro on T.V. hit a ball, the linesmen calls it out, and the player argues that the ball was in? When they show the replay, the ball was obviously out.

We can be wrong and so can our opponents across the net. If you come into the match expecting a few bad calls than it is easier to put it out of your mind and focus on the next point. We are not professional linesmen, so there will always be some bad calls here and there. I am not saying it is fair. What I am saying is that it is going to happen. Learn to move on quickly before you allow one bad call ruin a few games. Learn to expect a few bad calls per match, it help you to get past the bad calls if you expect them now and then.

If you are in a USTA tournament and you think that your opponent is making some very bad calls, you do have the right to ask the tournament coordinator for a linesman on your court. That usually gets those players who make bad calls (intentionally or not) to make better calls in a hurry!

Good Luck on the Court!
Scott Baker
Tennis4you.com