Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tennis Rules
Tennis Rules
NSA Modifications
A. Matches consist of three sets of four games.
B. Conventional advantage scoring will be used.
C. A set is completed when a player has won four games and leads an opponent by two
games.
D. Sets reaching four games apiece will play a 5 out-of-10 point’s tiebreaker.
Comment:
The toss shall be made before the warm-up. Choices should be made promptly after the
toss and are irrevocable, except when the match is postponed or suspended before the start of the
match.
3. The Service:
The service shall be delivered in the following manner. Immediately before commencing to
serve, the Server shall stand with both feet at rest behind (i.e. further from the net than) the base-
line, and within the imaginary continuations of the centre-mark and side-line. The Server shall
then project the ball by hand into the air in any direction and before it hits the ground strike it
with his racket and the delivery shall be deemed to have been completed at the moment of the
impact of the racket and the ball. A player with the use of only one arm may utilize his racket for
the projection.
Comment:
There is no restriction regarding the kind of service which may be used; that is, the player
may use an underhand or overhand service at his discretion.
Comment:
In singles, the server may stand anywhere in back of the baseline between the imaginary
extensions of the inside edge of the center mark and the outside edge of the singles sideline.
4. Foot Fault
The Server shall throughout the delivery of the Service:
a. Not change his position by walking or running. The Server shall not by slight movements
of the feet which do not materially affect the location originally taken up by him, be
deemed "to change his position by walking or running".
b. Not touch with either foot any area other than that behind the base-line within the
imaginary extensions of the centre-mark and side-lines.
5. Delivery of Service
a. In delivering the service, the Server shall stand alternately behind the right and left
halves of the Court beginning from the right in every game. If service from a wrong half
of the Court occurs and is undetected, all play resulting from such wrong service or
services shall stand, but the inaccuracy of station shall be corrected immediately it is
discovered.
b. The ball served shall pass over the net and hit the ground within the Service Court which
is diagonally opposite, or upon any line bounding such Court, before the Receiver returns
it.
6. Service Fault
The Service is a fault:
a. If the Server commits any breach of Rules 3, 4 and 5;
b. If he misses the ball in attempting to strike it;
c. If the ball served touches a permanent fixture (other than the net, strap or band) before it
hits the ground.
7. Second Service
After a fault (if it is the first fault) the Server shall serve again from behind the same half of the
Court from which he served that fault, unless the service was from the wrong half, when, in
accordance with Rule 5, the Server shall be entitled to one service only from behind the other
half.
8. When to Serve
The Server shall not serve until the Receiver is ready. If the latter attempts to return the service,
he shall be deemed ready. If, however, the Receiver signifies that he is not ready, he may not
claim a fault because the ball does not hit the ground within the limits fixed for the service.
Comment:
This rule applies to the first and second serve. The Receiver, having indicated he is ready, may
not become unready unless some outside interference takes place. If the Receiver claims to be
not ready and does not make any effort to return a service, the Server’s claim for the point may
not be honored even though the service was good.
9. The "Let"
In all cases where a let has to be called under the rules, or to provide for an interruption to play,
it shall have the following interpretations:
a. When called solely in respective of a service that one service only shall be replayed.
b. When called under any other circumstance, the point shall be replayed.
Comment:
A point is not decided simply when, or because, a good shot has clearly passed a player, or when
an apparently bad shot passes over a baseline or sideline. An outgoing ball is still definitely in
play until it actually strikes the ground, backstop, a permanent fixture (other than the net, posts,
singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band), or a player. The same applies to a good ball,
bounding after it has landed in the proper Court. A ball that becomes imbedded in the net is out
of play.
Comment:
When a player hits a ball into the net and the opponent, thinking the ball is coming over, strikes
at it and hits the net, the opponent loses the point if the opponent touched the net while the ball
was still in play.
Comment:
A ball hitting a scoring device or other object attached to a net post results in loss of point to the
striker.
c. He volleys the ball and fails to make a good return even when standing outside the Court;
or
d. In playing the ball he deliberately carries or catches it on his racket or deliberately
touches it with his racket more than once; or
Comment:
Only when there is a definite "second push" by the player does the shot become illegal, with
consequent loss of point. The word "deliberately" is the key word in this rule. Two hits occurring
in the course of a single continuous swing are not deemed a double hit.
e. He or his racket (in his hand or otherwise) or anything which he wears or carries touches
the net, posts, singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, or the ground within his
opponent’s Court at any time while the ball is in play; or
Comment:
Touching a pipe support that runs across the Court at the bottom of the net is interpreted as
touching the net. See Comment under Rule 19 for a ball which hits a pipe support.
Comment:
In a non-officiated match, each player makes the call on any ball hit toward the player’s side of
the net. If a player cannot call a ball out with certainty, the player should regard it as good.
Comment:
A ball in play that strikes a pipe support running across the Court at the base of the net is treated
the same as a ball landing on clear ground. See Comment under Rule 16(e) for a player who
touches a pipe support.
Comment:
Paragraph (e) of the rule refers to a ball lying on the Court at the start of the point as a result of a
service let or fault or as a result of a player dropping it. If a ball in play strikes a rolling or
stationary "foreign" ball that has come from elsewhere after the point started, a let should be
played.
21. Hindrance of a Player
In case a player is hindered in making a stroke by anything not within his control, except a
permanent fixture of the Court, or except as provided for in Rule 17, a let shall be called.
Comment:
See Rule 9 and Comments regarding lets.
Comment:
In a non-officiated match the Server should announce, in a voice audible to the Receiver and
spectators, the set score at the beginning of each game, and point scores as the game goes on.
Misunderstandings will be avoided if this practice is followed.
26. Decision
If the unexpected situation occurs and decision could not be made based on the rules and
regulations, the final decision will be announced by the official referee.