As a principle, when an error in respect of the Rules of Tennis is discov-ered, all points previously played shall stand. Errors so discovered shall be corrected as follows:
a. During a standard game or a tie-break game, if a player serves from the wrong half of the court, this should be corrected as soon as the error is discovered and the server shall serve from the correct half of the court according to the score. A fault that was served before the error was discovered shall stand.
b. During a standard game or a tie-break game, if the players are at the wrong ends of the court, the error should be corrected as soon as it is discovered and the server shall serve from the correct end of the court according to the score.
c. If a player serves out of turn during a standard game, the player who was originally due to serve shall serve as soon as the error is discov-ered. However, if a game is completed before the error is discovered the order of service shall remain as altered.
A fault that was served by the opponents(s) before the error was discovered shall not stand.
In doubles, if the partners of one team serve out of turn, a fault that was served before the error was discovered shall stand.
d. If a player serves out of turn during a tie-break game and the error is discovered after an even number of points have been played, the error is corrected immediately. If the error is discovered after an odd number of points have been played, the order of service shall remain as altered.
A fault that was served by the opponent(s) before the error was discovered shall not stand.
In doubles, if the partners of one team serve out of turn, a fault that was served before the error was discovered shall stand.
e. During a standard game or a tie-break game in doubles, if there is an error in the order of receiving, this shall remain as altered until the end of the game in which the error is discovered. For the next game in which they are the receivers in that set, the partners shall then resume the original order of receiving.
f. If in error a tie-break game is started at 6 games all, when it was pre-viously agreed that the set would be an “Advantage set”, the error shall be corrected immediately if only one point has been played. If the error is discovered after the second point is in play, the set will continue as a “Tie-break set”.
g. If in error a standard game is started at 6 games all, when it was previously agreed that the set would be a “Tie-break set”, the error shall be corrected immediately if only one point has been played. If the error is discovered after the second point is in play, the set will con-tinue as an “Advantage set” until the score reaches 8 games all (or a higher even number), when a tie-break game shall be played.
h. If in error an “Advantage set” or “Tie-break set” is started, when it was previously agreed that the final set would be a match tie-break, the error shall be corrected immediately if only one point has been played. If the error is discovered after the second point is in play, the set will continue either until a player or team wins three games (and therefore the set) or until the score reaches 2 games all, when a match tie-break shall be played. However, if the error is discovered after the second point of the fifth game has started, the set will con-tinue as a “Tie-break set”. (See Appendix IV.)
i. If the balls are not changed in the correct sequence, the error shall be corrected when the player/team who should have served with new balls is next due to serve a new game. Thereafter the balls shall be changed so that the number of games between ball changes shall be that originally agreed. Balls should not be changed during a game.
USTA Comments on Correcting Errors
USTA Comment 27.1: Errors as to Ends, Sides, Rotation, and Service Order, Etc. The general guiding philosophy regarding any mistakes made by players in failing to change ends, serving from wrong ends, serving to the wrong court, receiving from the wrong court, etc., is this: Any such error shall be rectified as soon as dis-covered but not while the ball is in play, and any points completed under the erroneous condition shall be counted.
There are only three exceptions to the “rectify immediately”
requirement. One is in the case of a doubles match where the players of one team happened to reverse their left court/right court receiving lineup in the middle of a set, and the switch is discovered in the mid-dle of a game. In this case the players finish that game in the “new”
positions, but resume their original lineup in all receiving games there-after in that set.
The second is where a ball change has not taken place in proper sequence.Rule 27i now says that this mistake shall be corrected when the player, or pair in case of doubles, who should have served with the new balls is next due to serve. Do not change in mid-game.
The third occurs in a Tiebreak, either singles or doubles, in var-ious situations.
USTA Comment 27.2: The tournament announced on its entry form that a Match Tiebreak would be used in lieu of the third set. The players inadvertently play a regular Tiebreak Set until they realize the mistake at 3-0. What should happen? Since the mistake was discov-ered before the start of the fifth game, pursuant to Rule 27h the play-er who is ahead 3-0 has won the set and the final set score should be shown as 3-0.
USTA Comment 27.3: The tournament announced on its entry form that a Match Tiebreak would be used in lieu of the third set. The players inadvertently play a regular Tiebreak Set until they realize the mistake at 2-1 and 30-all. What should happen? Since the mistake was discovered before the start of the fifth game, the players must con-tinue playing until the score reaches 3-1 or 2-2. If the score reaches 3-1, the player who is ahead wins the set and the final set score is recorded as 3-1. If the score reaches 2-2, a 10-point Tiebreak is played. The score is recorded as 3-2(x) with the score in the 10-point Tiebreak placed inside the parentheses.
USTA Comment 27.4: The tournament announced on its entry form that a Match Tiebreak would be used in lieu of the third set. The players inadvertently play a regular Tiebreak Set until they realize the mistake after the server has served a first service fault to start the fifth game of the final set. What should happen?
Regardless of whether the score is 2-2, 3-1, or 4-0, the players must continue playing a full Tiebreak set because they have started the fifth game. If the score reaches 6-all the players would play a 7-point Tiebreak. The score is recorded the same as any other Tiebreak set.
USTA Comment 27.5: Player A should have served the first point of the second set Tiebreak, but instead Player B served the first point.
Pursuant to Rule 27d, the order of service remained as altered. Who serves the first game of the final set? Player B serves the first game.
Rule 5b states that the player whose turn it was to serve first in the Set Tiebreak shall be the Receiver in the first game of the following set.
USTA Comment 27.6: Same situation as in USTA Comment 27.5 except that a Match Tiebreak is to be played in lieu of the third set.
Who serves first in the 10-point Tiebreak that is to be played in lieu of the final set? Player B.
USTA Comment 27.7: The tournament announced that a Match Tiebreak would be played in lieu of the third set. The players split sets. With Player A ahead 7-5, Player A comes to the net to shake hands with Player B. Player B refuses to shake hands because Player B contends that a Match Tiebreak is not over. What should happen? The players should keep on playing because the Tiebreak is not yet over.
USTA Comment 27.8: Same situation as in USTA Comment 27.7 except that Player B shakes hands. The players report to the Referee that Player A won the Tiebreak 7-5. Does Player A win the match?
Yes. By shaking hands the players have acknowledged that they agreed the match was over. A 7-point Match Tiebreak was played in good faith, so Player A wins the match, and the final set score should be recorded 1-0(5). See Section 2 of The Code.