## VII. THE COMPETITION 

## 7.22 On-Court Procedures and Requirements 

## A.Start of Tournament 

A tournament shall commence when the first serve of the first point of the first match is struck. 

## B.Start of Match 

A match shall commence when the first serve of the first point is struck. 

## C. Rules of Tennis 

The Rules of Tennis shall apply to all ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour tournaments except as amended by the ATP Official Rulebook. 

## D.Appeal of Calls 

## 1) Questions of Fact. 

a) Definition.  A question of fact is defined as an issue relating to what actually occurred on court during a specific match. Only the on-court officials shall determine questions of fact arising during a match and the player or the Su - pervisor may not change such determinations. 

b) Rule. A player may not appeal the determination made by the on-court offi - cials on a question of fact. 

## 2) Questions of Tennis Law. 

a) Definition.  A question of tennis law is defined as an issue relating to the construction and application of specific facts to the ATP rules and regulations and the rules of tennis. During a match, the Chair Umpire shall first determine questions of tennis law. If the Chair Umpire is uncertain or if a player appeals the determination of the Chair Umpire, then the decision shall be made by the Supervisor, which shall be final and non-appealable. 

b) Player Rights.  A player shall have the right to appeal any ruling of tennis law in accordance with the following procedures: 

 ii) The Chair Umpire shall stop play and immediately call for the Supervisor. Upon the arrival of the Supervisor, the Chair Umpire shall state the facts of the incident and the Supervisor shall be bound by the facts as stated. The Chair Umpire shall then state his position with respect to the ruling. The Supervisor shall review briefly the applicable rules with the player and the Chair Umpire and either affirm or reverse the ruling. 

iii) Play shall be resumed upon the statement of “Let’s Play” by the Supervi - sor and the players must proceed to commence play and the twenty-five (25) second clock shall commence. 

## E. Tennis Law - Cases 

## Appeal of Judgment Calls 

Case:  A first serve is hit down the middle and is called out and then corrected to good by the center service Line Umpire. The Chair Umpire awards the point to the server, but the receiver disagrees 

 i) When a player is of the opinion that a ruling by the Chair Umpire on a matter of tennis law is erroneous, he may appeal the ruling by notification to the Chair Umpire in a professional and non-abusive manner. 

## VII. THE COMPETITION 

saying that he had a play on the ball. The Chair Umpire agrees and rules that the point be replayed. The Supervisor is called to the court. 

Decision:  Point to server. The Chair Umpire may not change a judgment decision after a player appeal. 

## Appeal of the “Facts”: Receiver 

Case: First point of a game, the first serve is called fault and over - ruled by the Chair Umpire to good. The Chair Umpire then announc - es 15-Love. The receiver states that the point should be re-played because he returned the ball into the court. The Chair Umpire real - izes that the receiver did in fact return the ball and orders the point to be replayed. The server claims that the Chair Umpire cannot change his decision and asks for the Supervisor to be called. 

Decision:  The point is re-played. The Chair Umpire’s initial award - ing of the point to the server was incorrect based upon the facts as described by the Chair Umpire: The receiver did return the serve. 

## Appeal of the “Facts”: Server 

Case : First point of a game, the first serve is called fault and overruled by the Chair Umpire to good. The Chair Umpire awards the point to the server based upon his judgment that the receiver did not have a play on the ball. The receiver claims that he could have played the ball. The Chair Umpire is not sure of his original judgment and orders the point to be re-played. The server claims that the Chair Umpire may not change his judgment based upon an appeal from the receiver and asks for the Supervisor to be called. 

Decision: Point to the server. The facts on which the Chair Umpire based his initial decision did not change. Therefore, the Chair Umpire may not change his original decision based upon a player’s appeal or protest. 

## Umpire Blocked on Question of Fact 

Case:  Player A stops play claiming that player B had played the ball after it had bounced twice. The Chair Umpire said that he was “blocked” and could not make the decision. 

Decision: The point stands as played. When the Chair Umpire has the primary responsibility for a call (nets, throughs, not-ups and touches) as opposed to the secondary responsibility (line calls), an immediate decision must be made. If the Chair Umpire did not see a rules violation on something for which he has the primary responsi- bility then technically no violation can be called 

## Appealing for a Let 

Case:  Player A serves and player B returns the ball for a winner. Player A appeals to the Chair Umpire that the service was a let. The Chair Umpire says that he did not hear a let. Player A then asks player B if he heard a let. Player B answers yes. Upon hearing this, the Chair Umpire says that since both players heard a let, we shall play a let. Player B objects saying that it is the Chair Umpire’s call and that he was only confirming to player A that the Chair Umpire had made a mistake. 

Decision:  The point stands as played. The Chair Umpire cannot make assumptions as to the intent of player B’s comment. The 

