Tennis · Laws of Tennis
Law 9: Choice of Ends and Service
1 parts · 1 tests · 10 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown
How 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.
9.91Choice of Ends and Service
The toss, the winner's three choices and new choices after an interrupted warm-up.
Test 1The toss and the choicesTake a test
The toss comes first, then the warm-up.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · recall
A toss decides who chooses.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · recall
When the winner takes the serve choice, the end is left to the opponent.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · applied
Choosing an end hands the serve-or-receive choice to the opponent.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · applied
The winner may require the opponent to make one of the two choices.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · recall
The toss is not repeated, but the choices can be made again.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9, Case 1 · applied
New choices are open to both sides.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9, Case 1 · recall
The opponent takes the end choice, then the warm-up begins.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · applied
Deferring hands the first choice to the opponent; the winner takes the other.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · applied
When the winner chooses to serve, the opponent chooses the end.
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 · applied
Sources
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)
- ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 98
- ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 9, Case 12