tennis rules

The aim
Tennis is a game played on a rectangular court by either two players (singles) or four (doubles).
Players stand on opposite sides of a net and use a stringed racket to hit a ball back and forth to each other.
Each player has a maximum of one bounce after it has been hit by their opponent to return the ball over the net and within the boundaries of the court.
Once a player fails to do any of these three things, her opponent wins a point.
The aim is to win enough points to win a game and enough games to win a set and enough sets to win a match.
The first person to win six games wins a set.
Matches are usually the best of three or the best of five sets.

3. THE BALL (OLD 3, 13, 27 & 32)
Balls, which are approved for play under the Rules of Tennis, must comply
with the specifications in Appendix I.
The International Tennis Federation shall rule on the question of
whether any ball or prototype complies with Appendix I or is otherwise approved,
or not approved, for play. Such ruling may be taken on its own initiative,
or upon application by any party with a bona fide interest therein,
including any player, equipment manufacturer or National Association or
members thereof. Such rulings and applications shall be made in accordance
with the applicable Review and Hearing Procedures of the International
Tennis Federation (see Appendix VI).
The event organisers must announce in advance of the event:
a. The number of balls for play (2, 3, 4 or 6).
b. The ball change policy, if any.
Ball changes, if any, can be made either:
i. After an agreed odd number of games, in which case, the first
ball change in the match shall take place two games earlier
than for the rest of the match, to make allowance for the
warm-up. A tie-break game counts as one game for the ball
change. A ball change shall not take place at the beginning of a
tie-break game. In this case, the ball change shall be delayed
until the beginning of the second game of the next set; or
ii. At the beginning of a set
If a ball gets broken during play, the point shall be replayed.
Case 1: If a ball is soft at the end of a point, should the point be replayed?
Decision: If the ball is soft, not broken, the point shall not be replayed.
Note: Any ball to be used in a tournament which is played under the Rules
of Tennis, must be named on the official ITF list of approved balls issued by
the International Tennis Federation.
USTA Comment 3.1: What is the difference between a broken ball
and a soft ball? A broken ball has no compression; a soft ball has some
compression. Both broken and soft balls should be removed from play.
USTA Comment 3.2: May a player cause a ball to become wet by
using the ball to wipe perspiration from the player’s body? No. A
player may not take any action that materially changes the condition of
the ball; therefore, a player may not use a ball to wipe off perspiration.
USTA Comment 3.3: A current list of USTA approved balls is available
on the USTA web site, www.usta. com

4. THE RACKET (OLD 4)
Rackets, which are approved for play under the Rules of Tennis, must
comply with the specifications in Appendix II.
The International Tennis Federation shall rule on the question of whether
any racket or prototype complies with Appendix II or is otherwise approved,
or not approved, for play. Such ruling may be undertaken on its own initiative, or
upon application by any party with a bona fide interest therein, including any
player, equipment manufacturer or National Association or members thereof.
Such rulings and applications shall be made in accordance with the applicable
Review and Hearing Procedures of the International Tennis Federation
(see Appendix VI).
Case 1: Is more than one set of strings allowed on the hitting surface of a
racket?
Decision: No. The rule mentions a pattern (not patterns) of crossed
strings. (See Appendix II)
Case 2: Is the stringing pattern of a racket considered to be generally uniform
and flat if the strings are on more than one plane?
Decision: No.
Case 3: Can vibration damping devices be placed on the strings of a racket?
If so, where can they be placed?
Decision: Yes, but these devices may only be placed outside the pattern of
the crossed strings.
Case 4: During a point, a player accidentally breaks the strings. Can the
player continue to play another point with this racket?
Decision: Yes, except where specifically prohibited by event organisers.
Case 5: Is a player allowed to use more than one racket at any time during
play?
Decision: No.
Case 6: Can a battery that affects playing characteristics be incorporated
into a racket?
Decision: No. A battery is prohibited because it is an energy source, as are
solar cells and other similar devices.
USTA Comment 4.1: What happens if it is discovered after play
has begun that a player has been using an illegal racket or an illegally
strung racket? All points played stand. The player must find
another racket before continuing play. A player is subject to code violations
for delay under the Point Penalty System. If the discovery
occurs after the match is over, the match still counts.
USTA Comment 4.2: May a player who breaks a racket or a
string in a racket leave the court to get a replacement? A player who
leaves the Court to get a replacement is subject to Code Violations for
delays under the Point Penalty System. Rule 29b permits a player

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of
the game of tennis and its duties and responsibilities include determination
of the Rules of Tennis.
To assist the ITF in carrying out this responsibility, the ITF has
appointed a Rules of Tennis Committee which continually monitors
the game and its rules, and makes recommendations for changes either
on a permanent basis or for a limited trial period to the Board of
Directors of the ITF who in turn make recommendations to the Annual
General Meeting of the ITF which is the ultimate authority for making
any changes to the Rules of Tennis.
For reference purposes in this edition the old rule number is
shown in brackets.
Note: Except where otherwise stated, every reference in these
Rules of Tennis to the masculine includes the feminine gender.
1. THE COURT (OLD 1 & 34)
The court shall be a rectangle, 78 feet (23.77 m) long and, for singles
matches, 27 feet (8.23 m) wide. For doubles matches, the court shall be
36 feet (10.97 m) wide.
The court shall be divided across the middle by a net suspended by a cord
or metal cable which shall pass over or be attached to two net posts at a height
of 31⁄2 feet (1.07 m). The net shall be fully extended so that it completely fills the
space between the two net posts and it must be of sufficiently small mesh to
ensure that a ball cannot pass through it. The height of the net shall be 3 feet
(0.914 m) at the centre, where it shall be held down tightly by a strap. A band
shall cover the cord or metal cable and the top of the net. The strap and band
shall be completely white.
• The maximum diameter of the cord or metal cable shall be 1⁄3 inch
(0.8 cm).
• The maximum width of the strap shall be 2 inches (5 cm).
• The band shall be between 2 inches (5 cm) and 21⁄2 inches (6.35 cm)
deep on each side.
For doubles matches, the centres of the net posts shall be 3 feet (0.914 m)
outside the doubles court on each side.
For singles matches, if a singles net is used, the centres of the net posts
shall be 3 feet (0.914 m) outside the singles court on each side. If a doubles
net is used, then the net shall be supported, at a height of 31⁄2 feet (1.07 m), by
two singles sticks, the centres of which shall be 3 feet (0.914 m) outside the
singles court on each side.
• The net posts shall not be more than 6 inches (15 cm) square or
6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.
RULES

• The singles sticks shall not be more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) square or
3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter.
• The net posts and singles sticks shall not be more than 1 inch
(2.5 cm) above the top of the net cord.
The lines at the ends of the court are called baselines and the lines at the
sides of the court are called sidelines.
Two lines shall be drawn between the singles sidelines, 21 feet (6.40 m)
from each side of the net, parallel with the net. These lines are called the
servicelines. On each side of the net, the area between the serviceline and
the net shall be divided into two equal parts, the service courts, by the centre
serviceline. The centre serviceline shall be drawn parallel with the singles
sidelines and half way between them.
Each baseline shall be divided in half by a centre mark, 4 inches (10 cm)
in length, which shall be drawn inside the court and parallel with the singles
sidelines.
• The centre service line and centre mark shall be 2 inches (5 cm) wide.
• The other lines of the court shall be between 1 inch (2.5 cm) and
2 inches (5 cm) wide, except that the base lines may be up to 4 inches
(10 cm) wide.
All court measurements shall be made to the outside of the lines and all
lines of the court shall be of the same colour clearly contrasting with the
colour of the surface.
No advertising is allowed on the court, net, strap, band, net posts or singles
sticks except as provided in Appendix III.
USTA Comment 1.1: How do you tighten the net to the proper
tension? First, loosen the center strap. Next, tighten the net cord
until the center of the net is approximately 40 inches above the
ground. Finally, tighten the center strap until the center of the net is
36 inches above the ground. These measurements should always
be made before the day’s first match and when possible before each
match.
USTA Comment 1.2: What happens if a singles stick falls to the
court during a point? The point stops immediately and is replayed.
2. PERMANENT FIXTURES (OLD 2)
The permanent fixtures of the court include the backstops and sidestops,
the spectators, the stands and seats for spectators, all other fixtures around
and above the court, the chair umpire, line umpires, net umpire and ball persons
when in their recognised positions.
In a singles match played with a doubles net and singles sticks, the net
posts and the part of the net outside the singles sticks are permanent fixtures
and are not considered as net posts or part of the net.