# Law 21: When to Serve and Receive (ITF Rules of Tennis)

Tennis · Law 21: When to Serve and Receive · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/tennis/laws/law-21-when-to-serve-and-receive/)

The 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.

## 21.211 When to Serve and Receive

Waiting for the receiver, playing to the server's pace, and when a receiver counts as ready.

### Test 1: Ready to serve, ready to receive

- The server does not serve until the receiver is ready. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- The receiver may not slow the server down beyond what is reasonable. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- The Rules ask for readiness within a reasonable time. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- A receiver who attempts to return the serve is treated as ready. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- A serve to a receiver who was not ready cannot be a fault. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- The receiver follows the server's reasonable pace. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- The receiver's right to be ready is balanced by playing to the server's reasonable pace. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- Readiness comes before the serve. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- An attempt to return always counts as ready; a receiver turned away is not. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)
- If the receiver is shown not to be ready, the serve cannot be called a fault. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21)

Sources: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 21 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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