Official Tennis Rules & Regulations

Although the long and prestigious heritage of the game of tennis is often intimidating to amateur tennis players looking to gain more organized experience with the sport, its official rules and regulations are no more complicated than any other sport, and shouldn't be a hindrance to newly ambitious players. While tennis does have a stricter sense of court etiquette and politeness than many other sports, even a brief understanding of these regulations can help keep you from making a fool of yourself the first time you step out onto the court.

  1. Boundary Line Rules

    • Here the smaller service court is divided into four smaller rectangles.

      The standard tennis court is designed as a symmetric rectangular court divided evenly by a long, horizontal net across the center of the court. The end of each side of the court which runs parallel to the net is referred to as the baseline, while the longer side of the court which runs perpendicular to the net is referred to as the alley. The standard court is equipped with two sets of alley lines; one set of lines which form a narrower court, called the single's court, and one wider set of lines which form the doubles court. Note: All shots which touch the lines are considered in, meaning that, in order for a ball to be called out, 100 percent of the ball must make contact with the asphalt outside of the boundary lines.

    Doubles vs. Singles Rules

    • Tennis can be played with either a singles style or doubles style of play. In singles play, the player must hit his or her shots within the narrower sidelines that run perpendicular to the net, again, identified as the singles court. In doubles, since there are two players on either side of the net, the wider sidelines are used, allowing the players more room to hit shots out wide, along the doubles alley.

    Service Court Rules

    • The baseline has a small line that divides the service courts in two.

      Each point of a tennis match is began with a service, in which the player typically tosses the ball above his or her head to hit the ball downwards, diagonally across the net into the smaller rectangular box diagonally across from him or her. At the baseline of either side of the court, there is a small line indicating the exact center of the baseline; the server must stand on the side of the line which is diagonally opposite the court which he or she is serving to.

    Scoring: Games

    • Every tennis match is scored in graduating levels of broadness. Every point is scored in increments of 10's and 15's, thus a given game could be scored 0-0 (or "love all"), 0-15 (or love-15), 15-15 (or 15 all), 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, and 40-40 (or deuce). If one player surpasses "40" while two or more points ahead of his or her opponent, then he or she wins the game. For example, if a player reaches 40-30 with 40 points, then wins another point. If a match reaches deuce, or 40-40, then play continues until one player wins two consecutive points, referred to as advantage "in" when the server is ahead by one, and advantage "out" when the receiver is ahead by one, thus alternating between advantage and deuce points until one player wins two consecutive points.

    Scoring: Sets

    • It's the server's responsibility to keep score when a line judge is not available.

      Each set of a tennis match is composed of six games for each player. This means that a game could proceed 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, for example. If one player wins six games while at least two games ahead of his or her opponent, then he or she wins the set. Either opponent has up to seven games to beat his or her opponent by two, meaning that a set could theoretically be won 7-5. If, however, a game reaches 6-6, then typically a tie break is played.

    Scoring: Tie Breaks

    • Tie breaks are played when a set reaches 6-6, and are scored differently from any other facet of the game. The tie break begins with a single service point from whomever last received serve. After the first point, the service switches over to the opponent's possession, where he or she then proceeds to serve two consecutive points. After six points have been played, the players switch court sides, and generally stop for a short break. The tie break continues until one player reaches or surpasses seven points, and is ahead of his or her opponent by at least two points.

    Scoring: Matches

    • Every match is composed of either three or five sets. In the men's best of five match, play stops if one player wins three sets before his opponent does, while in the women's best of three match, play stops once one player wins two sets.

    Lets and Net Chord Contact Rules

    • Contact with the net is a tricky rule to understand.

      One important rule to remember is how to proceed when a ball clips the net. When serving, if a player clips the net chord, but the ball falls within the bounds of the service court, the ball is called a let, and the serve is repeated. However, in the regular course of a match, all shots which clip the net are considered active plays as long as the ball lands on the correct side of the court.

    General Etiquette

    • Tennis is well known for its strict sense of etiquette, and particularly known for its blatant rule breakers and bad boys such as John McEnroe and Marat Safin. However, as a general rule players are not to make loud, expletive remarks, are to remain quiet and restrained and are often times expected to abide by strict dress codes. Wimbledon, for example, has a strict policy on white attire.