The Fundamentals of Tennis : An Explanation of the Rules

Are you a beginner at tennis? Don’t worry, though; we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together an excellent handbook that covers all of the key tennis regulations, from the fundamentals to some obscure ones that even experts may not be aware of. What then are the guidelines for a tennis match?

The fundamentals of tennis are as follows:

Each player stands on opposite sides of the net and hits the ball back and forth with a tennis racket in a singles match against another player.

A serve is made by one player to begin the point, and the other player tries to return the serve.

• Before being returned, a serve needs to bounce in the service box.
  •It is deemed an FAULT if the server ignores the service box. Here, the player gets another opportunity to put the ball in play. We call this a SECOND SERVE.
• A double fault will be called and the server will forfeit the point if they miss the second serve.
• A LET is generated and the serve is redone if the serve strikes the net cord and bounces inside the appropriate service box.
• The point goes to the server if the opponent does not return a valid serve.
• When the ball is in play, each player aims to win the point by keeping it in the court, denying the opposition a chance to get it back, or making them commit an error.
  If a player fails to hit the ball, it bounces twice, or it goes out of the court or into the net, the point is over.
• The point is scored if the ball strikes the net cord and rebounds over the net (on the appropriate side).
• A player cannot cross over onto the court of their opponent or touch the net or net post while the game is in progress. • A player may only hit the ball once before it is returned to the other side of the net; if they do, that player will forfeit the point.
• The court’s boundaries are regarded as a part of the court. A ball is deemed IN if it crosses the line.

The Measurements of the Tennis Court

• Baseline: On either side of the court, the baseline is the line that runs parallel to the net and is the furthest from the net. The players will serve from the baseline, which also serves as the court’s length restriction.
• Center Mark: The narrow division line that splits the court in half on the baseline is known as the center mark. Its main purpose is to provide as a guide for players to establish the proper position to serve from. A player will serve to the service box on the opposing side of the net, or on one side of the court, while standing on one side of the center mark (i.e., diagonally).
• Service Line: This is the portion of the line that is halfway between the baseline and the net and runs parallel to it. It indicates how long the service box is. The ball must bounce in front of the service line when being served.
• Center Line: This line, which divides the service boxes, runs perpendicular to the net from its center.

The Tennis Court’s Dimensions

• Singles Sideline: The innermost line running the whole length of the court (perpendicular to the net) is the singles sideline. They restrict the court’s width and there are two per court, one on the left and one on the right.

• Doubles Sideline: Perpendicular to the net, the doubles sideline is the outermost line that runs the entire length of the court. Once more, they restrict the court’s width and are two per court. As the name suggests, doubles tennis is the only activity that uses the doubles sidelines.
• The Net: The net separates the two ends of the court. It is 3 feet tall (0.914 meters) in the center, but if a doubles net is used—which is usual in modern tennis—it measures 3 feet 6 inches (the net sags) at either net post.
• The Surroundings: At the recreational level, a minimum of 3.05 meters to either side and 5.49 meters behind the baseline must be kept around the court. The minimum distances required for competition are 3.66 meters to either side and 6.40 meters behind the baseline.
• The Lines: Each line’s thickness changes in accordance with established guidelines. The center point measures four inches in length and no more than four inches in width. All other lines on the court are between two and three inches wide, with the exception of the service and center lines, which are both two inches wide. Once more, a ball is deemed IN if it bounces on the line.

Tennis Scoring: Match, Game, Set, and Point

Game

A typical game has four points at the very least. The server’s score is called first, and it goes like this:

No point = “Love” |

First point = “15” |

Second Point = “30” |

Third Point = “40” |

Fourth Point = “Game”

For instance, the score is “15 – Love” if the server receives the first point. The score will be “Love – 15” if the receiver wins the opening point. When a player scores four points with at least two clear, they have won the game. When three points are won by each player, the score is “40-40.” This is referred to as “DEUCE.” After Deuce, the player who wins the point will score “ADVANTAGE.” The person who wins the subsequent point will win the match. If they drop the point, the score returns to Deuce.

Set

The first player to achieve 6 games with at least a 2-game lead wins a set, which consists of 6 games.

Player A will serve for the entirety of the opening game of a set. After the players exchange places on the court, Player B will start serving. The player will then keep switching ends every two games after that.
A set will be extended to seven if it ends at 5-5.
A “Tie break” will be used to determine the set winner if the score reaches 6-6.

Tie Break

A player needs to lead by at least two points and win seven points to force a tie break. The winner of the tie break and set will be the first player to win seven points, assuming they have a two-point advantage over their opponent. Player A will serve to start the game, and after that, the serve will switch places every two points.

Match

In a standard match, each player needs to win two sets in order to advance to the best-of-three final.
The type of event played will determine the format and duration of a match. Both men’s and women’s professional matches are best-of-three affairs.

On the men’s professional circuit, there are, however, several events where matches are best of five sets. The majors, or Grand Slams, are these.

The Doubles Tennis Rules

The regulations for a game of doubles differ slightly from those for a game of singles tennis, although being largely the same. There will be two players on either side of the net, which is the obvious difference. As a result, the tramlines are integrated into the court and the court’s size is expanded.

The Tennis Rules That Most People Are Probably Aware Of

What occurs if the ball bounces in after striking the net post?

If the ball strikes a net post and rebounds back inside the court, the point is still in play since the net posts are regarded as a component of the net. But this doesn’t apply to serves; it only pertains to rallies. The permanent net posts and the portion of the net outside the singles sticks in a singles match with a doubles net and singles sticks are regarded as permanent fixtures rather than net components. The ball is deemed OUT and the player loses the point if it strikes any permanent fixture before bouncing in.

What occurs when a player is struck by a tennis ball?

A player can only make contact with the ball with his tennis racquet when it is in play. The player forfeits the point if the ball makes contact with any area of their body or attire.

In tennis, is it possible to touch the net?

In tennis, you are not allowed to touch the net. A player is not permitted to contact the net with any part of their body, apparel, or racket until the point has ended. A player forfeits the point if they run into or touch the net.

In tennis, is it possible toss your racket?

To hit the ball, a player cannot toss their racket. The racket must be in the player’s hand when the ball is hit for the stroke to be considered valid. The point will still stand if the racket is dropped or relinquished after the ball is struck.

Is a player permitted to make noise during a point?

To hit the ball, a player cannot toss their racket. The racket must be in the player’s hand when the ball is hit for the stroke to be considered valid. The point will still stand if the racket is dropped or relinquished after the ball is struck.

Can a player make a ball whiff?

In play or during a rally, a player is able to whiff the ball. But, if the player throws the ball, swings for a serve but fails to whiff the ball, and the ball bounces, that is seen as a fault (remember, even if the player whiffs the ball on serve, they can still try to hit it before it bounces!)

In tennis, can any player call a let?

For shots that land on their own side of the net, each player or team is in charge of calling the lines. Calls for balls that land on the other team’s side of the net are not permitted to be made by a player or team. However, during a serve, either player may call a let because the net is seen as being in the middle.