Rules in Tennis
Tennis is a sport with a rich history and specific rules that define every aspect of the game. This page provides the basic Rules of Tennis according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF). For complete and detailed rules, visit the official ITF website .
- The serving player must stand behind the baseline of his part of the court and within the boundaries of the center mark and the sideline.
- For a successful serve, the ball must go over the net and land within the service area diagonally opposite the server.
- Each player is entitled to two serves per point.
- If the ball touches the net and lands inside the service area, it is called a “flight” and the player is entitled to re-serve.
- If a player fails to execute both serves correctly, it is considered a double fault and the opponent wins a point.
- A point starts with a serve, and the receiver’s task is to return it successfully.
- To win a point, a player must hit the ball before it bounces twice.
- A player must not cross the net to hit the ball.
- After the game ends, the server becomes the receiver and vice versa.
- A player must win at least six games by two games to win a set.
- Players must switch sides after the first, third and every subsequent odd game in a set.
- If both players win six games in a set (6-6), the set goes to a tiebreak.
Punches
- Only the serving team wins points.
- Games are usually played to 11 points, winning by a margin of 2.
- Tournament games can be up to 15 or 21, win by 2.
- A player or team must win at least seven points with a margin of two points to win a tiebreak and a set.
- In a tiebreak, the serve is changed after the first point. Then the serve changes after every two points played…
Number of sets
- In men’s singles matches at Grand Slam tournaments, matches are best of five sets, while at other ATP tournaments matches are best of three sets.
- All women’s singles and doubles matches, at Grand Slam tournaments and WTA tournaments, are best of three sets.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
The basic rules of tennis include the rules of serving, scoring, strokes, the scoring system, and how to win a tennis match. You can study the detailed rules on the official website of the ITF .
The duration of a tennis match may vary. Matches can last from one hour to several hours, depending on the number of sets, length of games and other factors.
Scoring in tennis goes in the following order: 15, 30, 40 and game. If both players reach 40-40, it is called a “deuce,” and it takes two consecutive points to win the game.
A winner in tennis is a shot that the player makes so that the opponent cannot return it, and the ball is inside all lines of the court.
A “break” in tennis is when a player wins a game while the opponent is serving.
A game is the basic unit of scoring in tennis. A player or team must win four points to win a game, with a two-point margin needed if a deuce occurs.
A tie break in tennis is a special scoring method used when the score in a set is 6-6. A player or team must win at least seven points, with a margin of two points, to win a tiebreak and a set.
At the start of the match, the referee tosses a coin. The player who wins the coin toss can choose whether to serve first, receive first, or choose a side of the court.
Yes there is. At Grand Slam tournaments, men’s singles matches are best of five sets, while women’s singles matches, like all matches at WTA tournaments, are best of three sets.
