Call a let on match point from a ball falling from opponents pocket?

In "The Code - Players Guide for Matches When Officials Are Not Present" I found this:

[The asterisks were added by me for emphasis]

"34. Let due to unintentional hindrance.

A player who is hindered by an opponent's unintentional act or by something else outside of the player's control is entitled to a let only if the player could have made the shot had the player not been hindered. ***A let is not authorized for a hindrance caused by something within a player's control.*** For example, a request for a let because a player tripped over the player's own hat should be denied."

As I read this, your opponent had control of the tennis ball[s] in his pocket, and so therefore, as in the "hat example," he was not entitled to call on let on that basis.

If, as a co-worker, he brags about beating you in tennis to others at work, I would avoid playing him in the future. If you must play him again in a tournament or team match, demand a chair umpire. Otherwise, refuse to play him.

Taking this a step further, playing singles with people you work with seems like asking for trouble, because one person is almost always going home at least a little bit unhappy. Somebody has to lose. We used to read cartoons about people playing golf with the boss; that was also a recipe for trouble, IMHO. In tennis, it's worse than golf, due to the one-on-one-combat element of the sport.

With such a person as this, talking about the ruling in the results here likely won't help you either. He can just use your argument to call you a sore loser or some other name.

Let it pass, and learn from the experience: Don't play singles with co-workers, or if you do, make sure it's with someone whose sportsmanship is unquestionable and someone who will *not* make an issue of the result. Doubles is usually a lot less intense, as you must know.

I just want to add something. I always have to laugh when people tell me that the only real way to play pool is by having to call everything. Two things... 1. I play real pool and those are not the rules. It's ball in hand, call your pocket. 2. 99.9% of the people who play "call everything" are not good enough to even play that way. Heck, the best players in the world clip balls and run rails unintentionally.

The truth of the matter is, you didn't lose the match because of one point.

No one ever loses a match because of one point. You played a ton of points. If you were better than your opponent, it wouldn't have gotten to 6-5 in the third.

Actually, according to USTA rules, he was right to call a let for that. I had to look up the rule because I wasn't aware of it either. Sorry that happened I can only imagine how frustrated you must have been.

I'm the one who called the let. I bought he gatorades for the match, 32oz each. I thought you were my friend who would understand that I could have broken my ankle because of the ball!!!

So thanks bro, from now on drink water....from a pond.

I will be filing a lawsuit in the 5th court of Florida because of emotional distress.