Tennis · Sport Rules
Laws of Tennis
Laws of Tennis 1 to 32 as Insporta tests them: 550 sourced facts written from the ITF Rules of Tennis.
Law 1The CourtThe court and the net: the size of the court for singles and doubles, the height of the net, the posts and singles sticks, the lines and how wide they may be, how a court is marked out and how much space should…1 parts · 4 tests · 40 factsLaw 2Permanent FixturesWhat the Rules count as the court's permanent fixtures: the backstops and sidestops, spectators and their stands, everything around and above the court, and officials and ball persons in their places; how the net is…1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 3The BallThe ball: who approves it, how many balls are used and when they are changed, what happens when a ball breaks, the ball types and their specifications, and how court pace decides which ball to use.1 parts · 4 tests · 40 factsLaw 4The RacketThe racket: who approves it, what its frame and hitting surface must be, how big it may be, which attachments and devices are allowed, and how many rackets a player may use.1 parts · 3 tests · 30 factsLaw 5Score in a GameHow a game is scored: the calls from love to game, deuce and advantage, the tie-break game and who serves in it, and the No-Ad game with its deciding point.1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 6Score in a SetHow a set is scored: six games with a two-game margin, the advantage set and the tie-break set, what an event must announce, and the short sets and five-point tie-break that Appendix VI allows.1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 7Score in a MatchHow a match is decided: best of three or best of five sets, and the match tie-breaks and final-set tie-break that Appendix VI allows in place of a long deciding set.1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 8Server and ReceiverWho the server and the receiver are, that they stand on opposite sides of the net, and where the receiver may stand.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 9Choice of Ends and ServiceHow the first server and the starting ends are decided: the toss before the warm-up, the three choices the winner has, and what happens if the warm-up is stopped.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 10Change of EndsWhen players change ends: after the odd games of a set, at the end of a set or after the first game of the next one, and during a tie-break.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 11Ball in PlayWhen the ball is in play: from the moment the server strikes it until the point is decided, unless a fault or a let is called.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 12Ball Touches a LineA ball that touches a line counts as touching the court that line bounds, so a line is part of its court.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 13Ball Touches a Permanent FixtureWhat happens when a ball in play touches a permanent fixture: after landing in the correct court, the hitter wins the point; before touching the ground, the hitter loses it.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 14Order of ServiceWho serves each game: server and receiver swap after every game, and in doubles each team chooses its first server for the set and the partners then take turns.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 15Order of Receiving in DoublesWho receives in doubles: each team chooses who takes the first point of its first receiving game, the partners then alternate point by point, and after the return either partner may play the ball.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 16The ServiceHow a serve is made: standing still behind the baseline between the centre mark and the sideline, releasing the ball by hand and hitting it before it lands.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 17ServingWhere each serve is made from and where it must land: alternate halves from the right in every game and tie-break, over the net into the service court diagonally opposite.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 18Foot FaultWhat the server's feet may and may not do during the service motion: no walking or running, no touching the baseline or the court, and staying between the extensions of the centre mark and the sideline.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 19Service FaultWhen a serve is a fault: breaking the service, serving or foot-fault rules, missing the ball, or the serve touching a fixture, a singles stick, a net post, the server or the partner before it lands.1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 20Second ServiceWhat follows a first-serve fault: a second serve, without delay, from the same half of the court, unless the fault was served from the wrong half.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 21When to Serve and ReceiveThe timing between server and receiver: the server waits for the receiver, the receiver plays to the server's reasonable pace, and an attempt to return counts as being ready.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 22The Let During a ServiceWhen a serve is a let: it touches the net, strap or band and is otherwise good, or touches the net and then the receiving side, or is served before the receiver is ready; the serve is taken again, and an earlier…1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 23The LetWhat a let means: the whole point is replayed, except after a service let on a second serve, when only that serve is taken again.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 24Player Loses PointThe ways a player loses a point: two faults, a double bounce, a ball out or into a fixture, volleying the serve, carrying or double-hitting, touching the net or the other court, hitting before the ball crosses, being…1 parts · 3 tests · 30 factsLaw 25A Good ReturnWhat still counts as a good return: balls that touch the net or its posts and land in, balls played round the posts or under the cord beside a singles stick, reaching over for a ball blown back, a follow-through over…1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 26HindranceWhen a player is hindered: a deliberate act by the opponent wins the point for the hindered player; an unintentional act, or something outside the player's control other than a permanent fixture, means the point is…1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 27Correcting ErrorsWhat happens when a mistake in applying the Rules is found: points already played stand, and each kind of error (wrong half, wrong end, serving or receiving out of turn, the wrong set format, ball changes) is put…1 parts · 3 tests · 30 factsLaw 28Role of Court OfficialsWho decides what: the referee on questions of tennis law, the chair umpire on questions of fact, line and net umpires on their lines, when calls may be overruled or corrected, when play is suspended, and the ball…1 parts · 4 tests · 40 factsLaw 29Continuous PlayPlay should run on from the first serve to the end of the match: the time allowed between points, at changeovers and set breaks, extra time for broken equipment, the medical time-out, toilet breaks, rest periods and…1 parts · 2 tests · 20 factsLaw 30CoachingWhat coaching is and when it is allowed: off-court coaching where the sanctioning body permits it, on-court coaching only by a team captain in team events, how it may be given, and never during a point.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 31Player Analysis TechnologyEquipment that records, stores, transmits, analyses or communicates player performance information: it must meet Appendix III, the ITF rules on its approval, and players may use its data only when coaching is allowed.1 parts · 1 tests · 10 factsLaw 32Rules of Wheelchair TennisHow wheelchair tennis differs from the standard Rules: two bounces, the chair as part of the body, the wheelchair service, when a player loses the point, what the chair may be, propelling with a foot, and mixed matches.1 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts
Each guide paraphrases the Law in its own words; the authoritative text is the ITF Rules of Tennis.