Court of Appeals: Game, Set & Match?

WATCH: Andrey Rublev, Stan Wawrinka play rock-paper-scissors for the coin toss in Madrid.

The tennis summer swing is in full force across all surfaces, meaning more debates over lines and serves, questionable calls, and the perennial query: 'What does The Code say?'

Court of Appeals is here to clear the air. Rebel Good, a past editor of Friend at Court, the USTA’s handbook of rules and regulations, has taught officiating for more than 30 years and will resolve all your rules questions and quarrels.

Game, Set, Match

At the 4-1 changeover my opponent said she wanted to retire. Shocked, I asked her if she was serious. She said yes. We shook hands. After this she went to the bench, sat down, then stated she wanted a Medical Timeout. She started arguing that when she shook hands she was only thinking of retiring. Was the match over or not?

— Amy Petrow, Tucson, Ariz.

Your opponent can get all the rest or treatment she wants now because this match is history. The Code, #2, says that shaking hands “is an acknowledgement that the match is over.” Note that this doesn't require a handshake for the match to be over, which is just as well in times of social distancing.

—Rebel Good

Got a question? Send it our way. Email your question to courtofappeals@tennis.com.