My shot in doubles passed between the net and the net post about a foot below the top of the net. It hit the post and caromed into our opponents’ doubles alley and was not returned. Since the post is in play, I thought it was our point; my opponents argued otherwise. Who’s right?
— Scott Launey, San Diego, CA
You were half right, but that’s not good enough. Rule 25.a does indicate that the net posts in a doubles match are in play... but it also says that a shot must “pass over” the net or cord to be a good return. Yours didn’t, and thus wasn’t. Or, as USTA Comment 25.3 says, “this is a ‘through’” and results in loss of point.
Except where noted, answers are based on the ITF Rules of Tennis and USTA's The Code.
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