International Tennis Federation
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.
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.
