Expert: Ed Hines - 10/12/2009

Question
Are you allowed to run into the net after the ball is in play. This occurred recently during a doubles game. The opposing team mate ran towards the net as though he was going to crash into the net, but hit the net with his racket after they received the point. How do you call this situation. my response was to play the point over?

Answer
If he hit the net while the ball was in play, he loses the point.  The question is, was the ball in play when he struck the net or had it already bounced twice on your side, hit a permanent fixture, etc?  Even if he hit a clear winner, he'd lose the point unless the point was over at the time he made contact with the net. I've called this (they're call "touches") against a player that ran furiously to the net and then hit a lob over their opponents for a winner. Unfortunately for the net rusher, he couldn't stop in time before his lob bounced twice. So timing can be critical.

Also, touches are called by the alleged toucher, not the other team, same as a double bounce.