# Law 1: The Court (ITF Rules of Tennis)

Tennis · Law 1: The Court · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/tennis/laws/law-1-the-court/)

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.

## 1.11 The 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 1: Court size and the net

- The court is a rectangle 78 feet (23.77 m) long, for singles and doubles alike. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- Singles uses the inner court, 27 feet (8.23 m) between the singles sidelines. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- Doubles adds a strip of 4½ feet on each side, making 36 feet (10.97 m). (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- A strap holds the net down to 3 feet (0.914 m) in the middle. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- Both the strap and the band that covers the cord are entirely white. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- 21 feet, 27 feet, 36 feet and 78 feet. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- 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)

### Test 2: Net posts and singles sticks

- Each post stands with its centre 3 feet beyond the doubles sideline. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- Singles sticks raise the doubles net to 3½ feet just outside the singles court. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- Like the posts in doubles, the sticks stand 3 feet outside the court being used. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- 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)
- Posts and sticks may stand at most 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the cord. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

### Test 3: The lines of the court

- The end lines are the baselines and the side lines are the sidelines. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- The servicelines stop at the singles sidelines, so the service courts are singles-width. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- The centre serviceline runs midway between the singles sidelines, creating two equal service courts. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- A 4-inch (10 cm) mark, drawn inside the court, halves each baseline. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- 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)
- The serviceline is 21 feet from the net and the baseline 39 feet. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- Service courts lie between the net and the serviceline; the baseline closes the court. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)

### Test 4: Marking out and the space around the court

- 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)
- All lines are the same colour and must stand out clearly from the court surface. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 1)
- 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)
- The guide for international competition is 21 feet behind each baseline. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X)
- Club courts are guided to 18 feet behind each baseline. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X)
- The guide is 29.6 feet (9 m) of clear height above the net. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X)
- 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)
- 10 feet, 12 feet, 18 feet and 21 feet. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X)
- 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)
- For club and recreational play the guide is 18 feet between the baseline and the backstop. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix X)

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)

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