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NYT Daily • September 3, 2025

Tennis umpire’s call

Answer:

LET!

Hint:

When a serve clips the net but still lands in bounds, you might hear this shouted to signal a replay. It’s not "out" or "fault," but a brief pause in play.

Explanation:

In tennis, an umpire shouts "LET!" when a serve hits the net but still lands in bounds, requiring a replay. The clue plays on this exact phrase—the word "call" hints at something the umpire says aloud, not just a general term. Since "LET" is short and often exclaimed, the exclamation mark in the answer reinforces how it’s actually spoken on the court.

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