Down the line

I have two topics to discuss, our most recent 8.0 match with the Wild Aces and the question, is hitting the ball down the line (near the net person) in doubles OK, the right thing to do, moral and ethical?  I’m referring to hitting a hard return of serve or groundstroke when you are close to the baseline (usually the return of serve) down the line and thus near the net person in a USTA doubles match.  This is especially relevant in Mixed doubles when a woman is at the net.  There are women who don’t play Mixed because of this concern and there are men who also don’t play because they don’t want to take any chances.

Here’s my “off the cuff” response – it depends on the level.  For men’s doubles, there’s no question in my mind – it’s game on brother. If you are uncomfortable returning this shot you can start from the baseline and come in.  For clarification, these are down the line shots, not blasts at the net person.  If you are right handed playing the deuce side (or left handed playing Ad) it’s a natural shot to go down the line.  The net height in the alley is 36” high vs. 30” in the middle but if you can hit with top spin it’s an effective shot and a great/necessary way to slow down poachers.  The bible of doubles (according to my religion) is The Art of Doubles by Pat Blaskower.  She recommends for every 10 return of serves that 7 go cross-court, 2 go down the line and 1 is a deep lob.

For Mixed doubles at the 7.0 level (7.0 refers to the combined ranking of each doubles team) i.e. two 3.5 players or a 4.0 and a 3.0 playing together, I’d say you have to be real careful because this is the intermediate level.  There can be high level 4.0’s playing 7.0 Mixed who can hit the ball with substantial pace.  Going hard at a 3.0 woman is unsportsmanlike but not against the rules.  She can move back if the guy is making her nervous while she’s at the net. At 8.0, it’s somewhere in the middle.  The players are better able to handle themselves; they have typically experienced this before and have learned how to deal with it.  If you are playing a 3.5 woman (with a 4.5 partner) you may be able to intimidate her but theoretically her partner should be able to come after your partner.  At the 9.0 Mixed level – it’s game on.  One of my favorite quotes about this shot is from a fantastic 4.5 woman who always told me “I don’t worry about that, I have two feet and a racquet.”

Again, please note that I talking about hitting down the line which is “near” the net person.  It is never sporting to intentionally hit at someone – never. I have seen people deliberately hit at players with groundstrokes and yes overheads too.  It’s just not fun and tennis is supposed to (needs to) be fun. It is not uncommon for tennis players at the net to get angry when they have just deflected a ball coming right at them with about a second to react.  To me this is like a bad line call.  Was the act intentional or were they just playing tennis?  In my experience it’s rarely an intentional act.  And remember, even at the 9.0 Mixed level, these players do not have pinpoint control and that’s if you are stationary when taking the shot.  If you are on the run, you have less control and you often are moving to some degree.  If you experience someone coming at you (very rare) then you have to either move back or learn how to hold your ground.  The best tactic to counter this is to hold your ground, set your feet and use your racket to block the shot.  You don’t swing and the pace of the ball will typically mean a good, deep shot for the other team when it is blocked back.

Just a hypothetical, I’m playing an 8.0 match against a hard hitting 6’ 4.0 guy at the net who has poached a few times in the match.  The serve comes wide and my return is a fairly hard blast down the line (my favorite shot) which hits the guy at the net.  He’s pissed and stands there hand on hip, and exclaims “Really?!?”  An immediate apology is offered, “I was just going down the line and not at you.” Now I can see a gal complaining but then again, not really.  A guy on the other hand?  Should I have gone cross-court no matter what or lobbed?

Last Saturday my 8.0 team had a good outing on Saturday against the Wild Pirates, err…Wild Aces. We are trying to keep pace with the 1^st place Pirates in hopes that we can overtake them so every match is important.  With the parity in our flight this year it means every team is capable of beating any other.   I had a momentary scare when we exchanged lineups.  They played veteran Gary McGeehan at #1 and he has a .500 record.  Our pair was Kathleen Glikes and Ron Rubenstein who I don’t think have met before.  At 2nd dubs we faced Terri & Ron Siggs vs. our pair of Joni Steinhardt and Lee Sullivan.  Ron Siggs was the long time captain of the Pirates – our perennial competition for first place in our fight.  Ron defected this year handing the reins to Liz Eukers who has continued the Pirates’ winning ways.  Ron is a very recent addition to the Wild Aces roster and I didn’t expect to see him.  I’ve played him several times and essentially he hits a lot of half volleys and he’s fast and consistent (in other words, he’s a smart, solid player).  At 3rd dubs, Patty Pae and I took on Vera Holland and Bob Meyers.  I recalled playing a “Vera” last year (and lost) so, I was concerned.  I knew the Siggss’sss would be tough and the other two courts were question marks.

Kathleen and Ron played great and won 3&3.  This was never really in doubt.  Ron served several aces and Kathleen was just “on.”  When you get two players playing aggressively and not making many errors you aren’t going to lose no matter what the matchup is.

The Siggs won a thrilling 3 sets, 3 hour battle.  They captured the first set 6-4, lost 6-7 (6-8 tiebreaker) in the 2^nd set and closed it out 6-3 in the 3rd.  Joni Steinhardt has been to Nationals at least 3 times and Lee Sullivan is a low grade 4.5 with a 4.0 rating.  This was a phenomenal win for Terri and Ron, congratulations.  It was our strongest court.  At 3^rd doubles, it turns out that there’s another Vera (I was so surprised) and this Vera I had not played.  Patty Pae and I won 2&1. I had a two add-out points in my service games and both times my partner brought it back to deuce with a clean winner – thanks Patty.  We won the team match 2-1 and we are now 7-2 on the season.

We have 3 matches after this one.  We have clinched 2nd place and thus a play-in for Districts on 4/14.  Unless the Pirates lose, we won’t finish in first.  Districts are 4/21 & 4/22.