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Tennis · Laws of Tennis

Law 1: The Court

1 parts · 4 tests · 40 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown

The 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 surround it.

1.11The Court

The size of the court, the net and its posts, the singles sticks, the lines, and the marking out of a court and the space around it.

Test 1Court size and the netTake a test

  1. The court is a rectangle 78 feet (23.77 m) long, for singles and doubles alike.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  2. Singles uses the inner court, 27 feet (8.23 m) between the singles sidelines.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  3. Doubles adds a strip of 4½ feet on each side, making 36 feet (10.97 m).

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  4. A strap holds the net down to 3 feet (0.914 m) in the middle.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  5. The cord runs over the posts at 3½ feet (1.07 m), so the net dips by half a foot towards the centre.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  6. Both the strap and the band that covers the cord are entirely white.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  7. The net fills the whole space between the posts, with a mesh no ball can get through.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  8. 21 feet, 27 feet, 36 feet and 78 feet.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  9. At most 1/3 inch (0.8 cm), at most 2 inches (5 cm), and 3 feet (0.914 m).

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  10. The net is 3½ feet at the posts and is held down to 3 feet at the centre.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · applied

Test 2Net posts and singles sticksTake a test

  1. Each post stands with its centre 3 feet beyond the doubles sideline.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  2. Singles sticks raise the doubles net to 3½ feet just outside the singles court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · applied

  3. Like the posts in doubles, the sticks stand 3 feet outside the court being used.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  4. A net post may be no more than 6 inches (15 cm) square or 6 inches in diameter.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  5. A singles stick is half the width of a net post at most: 3 inches (7.5 cm).

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  6. Posts and sticks may stand at most 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the cord.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  7. A singles-only court takes a 33-foot (10 m) net between posts set outside the singles court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  8. 13 ft 6 in, 16 ft 6 in, 18 ft and 21 ft from the centre of the net.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  9. With the net hung, a singles stick goes in outside each singles sideline; the net is then raised to 3½ feet at the sticks and the centre strap holds it at 3 feet in the middle.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · applied

  10. From the centre: A the singles sideline, B the singles stick, C the doubles sideline, D the net post.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · applied

Test 3The lines of the courtTake a test

  1. The end lines are the baselines and the side lines are the sidelines.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  2. A serviceline runs parallel to the net, 21 feet (6.40 m) from it on each side.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  3. The servicelines stop at the singles sidelines, so the service courts are singles-width.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  4. The centre serviceline runs midway between the singles sidelines, creating two equal service courts.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  5. A 4-inch (10 cm) mark, drawn inside the court, halves each baseline.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  6. Most lines are 1 to 2 inches wide, but baselines may be up to 4 inches (10 cm).

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  7. These two lines are fixed at 2 inches (5 cm); the others may be between 1 and 2 inches.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  8. The serviceline is 21 feet from the net and the baseline 39 feet.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  9. Service courts lie between the net and the serviceline; the baseline closes the court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  10. A is a baseline, B a service line, C the centre service line and D a singles sideline.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · applied

Test 4Marking out and the space around the courtTake a test

  1. Every measurement is taken to the outside of the lines, so the lines are part of the court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  2. All lines are the same colour and must stand out clearly from the court surface.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  3. Besides the full court, the Red and Orange courts of Appendix VIII may be used for 10-and-under events.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 · recall

  4. The guide for international competition is 21 feet behind each baseline.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  5. Club courts are guided to 18 feet behind each baseline.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  6. The guide is 29.6 feet (9 m) of clear height above the net.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  7. Blended lines stay in the surface's colour family, a little lighter, and slightly narrower than standard lines.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  8. 10 feet, 12 feet, 18 feet and 21 feet.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · recall

  9. The net line comes first, the corners are found from it, the baseline is checked, then the inner lines are marked.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · applied

  10. For club and recreational play the guide is 18 feet between the baseline and the backstop.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X · applied

Sources

ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1 with Appendices IX and X (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 130
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X10