Was playing this guy and when I went to serve he stepped into his ready position but just before I hit the bird he managed to lose his balance and fall down somehow. Would this be considered a fault? He didn't move towards the bird or anything, he just kinda fell to his side.
If you haven't served yet... Then it's nothing at all. If you want to call a fault, then you have to serve it. Then you can call him for moving before the serve.
So... if I wanted to be a jackdonkey I could have seen he was falling, quickly served and then call him on it?
If he moved just before you hit, it is implied that you already started to serve. Then it's his fault!
You guys would seriously call a fault on that? I've seen this once in international competetion. It was Peter Gade who lost his balance, Lin Dan (I think it was him) continued to serve, umpire called a let. Calling a fault on that is really miserable to be honest.
Personally, I wouldn't even call anything. I'd just wait until my opponent regained his balance before making my serve.
14.2 It shall be a "let”, if: 14.2.1 the server serves before the receiver is ready (Law 9.4); 9.1 In a correct service: 9.1.4 some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3);
Come on Fellows, club game, right? Even if it was not, I would first check if he was alright. Some people have vertigo, and there are many instances where even elite athletes just fall down after some severe medical episode. Be a sport, apologise to him if you had served, and re-serve after agreeing to play let. --