## APPENDIX K ITF RULES OF TENNIS 

Decision: The chair umpire must decide if the original “Out” call was a hindrance to either player. If it was a hindrance, the point shall be replayed. If it was not a hindrance, the player who hit the ball wins the point. 

Case 8: A ball is blown back over the net and the player correctly reaches over the net to try to play the ball. The opponent(s) hinders the player from doing this. What is the correct decision? 

Decision: The chair umpire must decide if the hindrance was deliberate or unintentional and either awards the point to the hindered player or order the point to be replayed. 

## BALL MARK INSPECTION PROCEDURES 

1. Ball mark inspections can only be made on clay courts. 

2. A ball mark inspection requested by a player (team) shall be allowed only if the chair umpire cannot determine the call with certainty from their chair on either a point-ending shot or when a player (team) stops playing the point during a rally (returns are permitted but then the player must immediately stop). 

3. When the chair umpire has decided to make a ball mark inspection, they should go down from the chair and make the inspection themselves. If they do not know where the mark is, they can ask the line umpire for help in locating the mark, but then the chair umpire shall inspect it. 

4. The original call or overrule will always stand if the line umpire and chair umpire cannot determine the location of the mark or if the mark is unreadable. 

5. Once the chair umpire has identified and ruled on a ball mark, this decision is final and not appealable. 

6. In clay court tennis the chair umpire should not be too quick to announce the score unless absolutely certain of the call. If in doubt, wait before calling the score to determine whether a ball mark inspection is necessary. 

7. In doubles the appealing player must make their appeal in such a way that either play stops or the chair umpire stops play. If an appeal is made to the chair umpire then they must first determine that the correct appeal procedure was followed. If it was not correct or if it was late, then the chair umpire may determine that the opposing team was deliberately hindered. 

8. If a player erases the ball mark before the chair umpire has made a final decision, they concede the call. 

