The call of "Let!" is the ultimate signal for a redo, stopping play and requiring the players to replay the point or, more commonly, the serve.
What is a "Let" in Tennis?
A "Let" is called when a serve is legal in all other respects but touches the net before landing in the correct service box.
- The Rule: If the ball hits the top of the net tape and then successfully lands within the lines of the service box (without hitting the ground first), the umpire calls "Let."
- The Consequence: The result is a re-serve. The server does not lose the point or a serve count; they simply take that specific serve again.
- Contrast with a Fault: If the ball hits the net and lands outside the correct service box, it is a fault (a missed serve), not a let. If the server misses two faults in a row, they lose the point.
Why is it Called a "Let"?
The origin of the term in tennis is closely linked to its obsolete meaning of "to hinder or obstruct" (as in "without let or hindrance").
- In tennis, the net is the intended hindrance. If the serve barely touches the net but still lands correctly, it's considered an interference that was just enough to unfairly obstruct the ball's trajectory, potentially confusing the receiver.
- Therefore, the official calls "Let!" to remove the obstruction's effect and allow the players to replay the serve under fair conditions.
The term ensures that the slightest, unpredictable contact with the net does not result in an unfair point being played, maintaining the integrity and fairness of the serve.