A tennis player may choose to hold a second ball when serving or playing. Players traditionally do this, in case a second serve is called for. If it becomes necessary, the player discards the second ball by tossing it outside the bounds of the court. In 1995, specific rules were established that allow penalties for certain uses of a second ball.
Holding a Second Ball While Playing
The miscellaneous rules section of the United States Tennis Association website notes that Chris Evert and other prominent players often held a second ball in their off hand during their early careers. Evert would toss the second ball away before hitting certain shots, such as a two-handed backhand. This was a common practice in the early 1970s, but had become rare by the 2000s, as players tended to rely on their pockets or the ball person to hold additional balls.
Second Balls and Safety
Presiding officials may ask a player choosing to hold a second ball while playing to stop doing so. The USTA website notes that an umpire may rule against holding a second ball during game play because of potential hazards. A discarded ball that rolls back onto the court could fall under the foot of a player and cause an injury.
Hindering Your Opponent
Rule 21 of the USTA's 1995 Rules of Tennis states that discarding a second ball can be deemed a distraction by the presiding umpire. If the umpire judges a discarded second ball to be a hindrance, the responsible player may be penalized. If a player refuses an umpire’s request to refrain from holding a second ball, she may lose a point for each time she refuses to comply.
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