Tennis is a popular racket sport that combines physical skill with mental strategy. Understanding the rules of tennis can enhance your enjoyment of the game, whether you’re a player, a fan, or a spectator. This comprehensive guide covers all the essential rules of tennis, from the basics of gameplay to specific regulations for different formats.
The Basics of Tennis
The Court: A tennis court is a rectangular surface with a net stretched across the middle. The court is divided into two halves, each with a baseline, service boxes, and alleys for doubles play.
Equipment: Players use a tennis racket to hit a tennis ball. The ball must meet specific size and weight requirements.
Objective: The objective of tennis is to hit the ball over the net into the opponent’s court in a way that they cannot return it. Points are scored when the opponent fails to return the ball within the court boundaries.
Scoring System
Points: A standard game is scored as follows: 0 (love), 15, 30, 40, and game. If both players reach 40 (deuce), a player must win by two consecutive points to win the game.
Games: A set is won by the first player to win six games with a margin of at least two games. If the set reaches 6-6, a tiebreak is usually played to decide the set.
Tiebreak: In a tiebreak, players alternate serves, and the first player to reach 7 points with a margin of two points wins the set.
Match: Matches are typically best-of-three or best-of-five sets. The player who wins the majority of sets wins the match.
Serving and Receiving
Serve: The game begins with a serve, where the server hits the ball diagonally across the net into the opponent’s service box. The server has two attempts to make a legal serve.
Faults: A serve is a fault if the ball lands outside the service box, hits the net, or misses the court entirely. A double fault (two consecutive faults) results in the loss of the point.
Receiving: The receiver stands diagonally opposite the server and attempts to return the serve.
Playing the Point
Rally: After the serve, players alternate hitting the ball back and forth over the net. The point continues until one player fails to make a legal return.
In and Out: A ball is in if it lands within the court’s boundaries, including the lines. A ball is out if it lands outside the lines or hits a permanent fixture.
Let: A let is called during a rally if an external factor, such as a ball from another court, interferes with play. The point is replayed.
Rules for Doubles
Court Size: In doubles, the court’s width is extended to include the alleys on each side.
Serving Order: Teams alternate serving each game, and players alternate serving within their team. The receiving team also decides which player will receive the serve in each game.
Rotation: After each game, players rotate positions. The server becomes the receiver’s partner, and the receiver becomes the server in the next game.
Etiquette and Conduct
Sportsmanship: Players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship, including calling their own lines honestly and respecting opponents and officials.
Code Violations: Unsportsmanlike conduct, such as racket abuse or verbal abuse, can result in penalties, including point penalties and disqualification.
Officials and Equipment
Umpires and Line Judges: In professional matches, umpires and line judges are responsible for enforcing the rules, calling the lines, and making decisions on disputed points.
Ball Changes: In professional matches, balls are typically changed at specific intervals, such as after the first seven games and every nine games thereafter.
Tournament Formats
Knockout: Players are eliminated after a single loss. The winner advances to the next round until a champion is determined.
Round Robin: Players compete in a group, with each player facing every other player in the group. The top performers advance to the knockout stages.
Seeding: Players are ranked based on their performance and may be seeded to ensure that the top players do not meet in the early rounds of a tournament.
Understanding these rules is crucial for fully appreciating and enjoying tennis. Whether you’re watching a Grand Slam tournament or playing a friendly match, keeping these guidelines in mind will help you engage with the game more deeply and play with greater skill.
