The Complete Rules of Tennis

The Basics: What Wins a Point

A player wins a point when:

• The ball bounces twice on the opponent's side of the court
• The opponent hits the ball out of the court boundaries (beyond the lines)
• The opponent hits the ball into the net
• The opponent fails to return a valid serve (double fault)
• The opponent is hit by a ball that hasn't bounced (in most cases)
• The opponent's racket or body touches the net while the ball is in play
• The opponent touches the ball before it has crossed the net
• The opponent deliberately distracts you

Service Rules

The serve is governed by the most rules of any shot in tennis.

Starting Position

• The server must stand behind the baseline, between the centre mark and the singles sideline.
• For the first point of each game, the server stands to the right of the centre mark. For the second point, to the left. This alternates throughout the game.
• The server must not move their feet significantly before the serve is hit (foot faults).

The Ball Toss and Strike

• The server tosses the ball into the air and must strike it before it hits the ground.
• If the server tosses the ball and decides not to hit it, this is called an aborted toss — no fault is called; the server may toss again.
• The server must hit the ball with the racket before it touches the ground.

The Service Box

• The ball must land in the diagonally opposite service box. Right side → left service box; Left side → right service box.
• If the ball lands outside the correct service box (including on the service line on the wrong side), it is a fault.
• If the ball lands on any line of the service box (including the centre service line), it is considered in.

Fault and Double Fault

• A fault is when the first serve fails (into the net, outside the service box, foot fault).
• After a fault, the server gets a second serve. If the second serve also fails, it is a double fault — the point goes to the receiver.
• A foot fault occurs when the server steps on or over the baseline before the serve is hit, or changes their position while serving in a way not permitted by the rules.

The Let

A let is a replay of a point, called when something interrupts the fair play of the point. No points are awarded. Common let situations:

• Service let: The serve clips the top of the net and lands correctly in the service box. The server may serve again (the serve is replayed, not the first serve replaced by the second).
• Distraction let: If a ball rolls onto the court from another court, or something else interferes with play, a let may be called.
• Ball from outside the court interrupts play.

In and Out: The Lines

• A ball landing on any part of the line is in. The ball only needs to touch any part of the line to be considered in play.
• A ball landing entirely outside any line is out.
• If a ball hits the net post and lands in the correct court, it is in — a rare but valid shot.
• If a ball hits the net cord between the posts and goes over and lands in, it is in.

Calling the Score

• In matches without a chair umpire, the server is responsible for calling the score before each service.
• In recreational play, players call their own shots in or out. When in doubt, the correct etiquette is to give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent.
• Players who consistently call close balls out against the rules of fair play may be penalized under the code violation system.

Changing Ends

• Players change ends of the court after the first game, and then after every two games.
• In a tiebreak, players change ends after every 6 points.
• This ensures that neither player is disadvantaged for the whole match by sun, wind, or other environmental factors.

Warm-Up Rules

• Players are entitled to a warm-up period before the match (typically 5 minutes in professional play).
• The warm-up is not a practice session — players should rally cooperatively, not try to win points.
• Players may request additional balls during warm-up if they are unsatisfactory.

The Ball Change

In professional matches, new balls are introduced at regular intervals (typically every 7 or 9 games). This is because tennis balls lose pressure and felt quality during play, which changes their flight characteristics. Players can request and inspect the balls before each game; however, they cannot demand a ball change outside the scheduled changes without a valid reason.

Net Touching — When Is It a Fault?

• A player loses the point if they or their racket touches the net, net posts, or anything attached to the net while the ball is in play.
• A player may touch the net after the point has ended (e.g., after the ball has bounced twice).
• A ball that touches the top of the net and falls over into the correct court is in play (a "net cord" shot).

Code Violations

In professional tennis, unsportsmanlike behaviour is penalized by a three-step escalation:

1. First offense: Warning. No points lost.
2. Second offense: Point penalty. One point is awarded to the opponent.
3. Third offense: Game penalty. One game is awarded to the opponent.
4. Further offenses: Default. The player is disqualified from the match.

Code violations are issued for behaviours including:

• Racket abuse (throwing or smashing the racket)
• Ball abuse (hitting the ball away or into the crowd in frustration)
• Verbal abuse of the umpire, opponent, or others
• Physical abuse
• Obscene language
• Deliberate time wasting
• Audible obscenity (shouting profanity even if not directed at anyone)

Time Rules

• Players have 25 seconds between the end of one point and the start of the next serve (at the professional level).
• At changeovers (changing ends), players have 90 seconds.
• At the end of a set, players have 120 seconds before the next game begins.
• Players who exceed these time limits may receive a time violation warning, followed by code violations if they continue.

In recreational play, time rules are generally not enforced, but keeping a reasonable pace is part of good tennis etiquette.

Medical Timeouts

• Players may request a medical timeout for a genuine, verifiable medical issue during a match.
• Each player is typically entitled to one medical timeout per match.
• A doctor or trainer must attend to assess the condition.
• Medical timeouts last 3 minutes for treatment of an injury.
• Heat-related illness timeouts may be longer.

Coaching Rules

• Traditionally, coaching during a match is not permitted in most professional tennis. Players must make all tactical decisions independently.
• However, the WTA Tour (women's professional circuit) introduced on-court coaching in 2009, allowing coaches to come onto the court during changeovers to give advice.
• The ATP Tour introduced "coaching on demand" at certain points from 2018, allowing players to request their coach come onto court once per set.
• Covert coaching (hand signals from the box) is not allowed but is notoriously difficult to police.