Rules FAQs
The questions and answers on this page have been listed within the categories below.
Serving/Receiving
Rackets Clashing/Losing Racket
Playing with Singles Sticks
Net/Net Post
Hindrances & Lets
Ball Condition/Contact with Fixtures
Serving/Receiving
In serving, when is "stance" taken up?
The server's stance is the position the player occupies with neither
foot moving, immediately before commencing the service motion.
The service motion begins when the player starts their backswing.
Can a player who has been serving right-handed decide during the progress
of the match to serve left-handed?
Yes. There is nothing in the rules to prevent a player doing this.
In a Doubles match, can the player serving borrow his partner's racket
to serve?
Yes. The player serving is quite within his rights.
Who serves first after a tie-break?
The player (or team in the case of Doubles) whose turn it was to serve
first in the tie-break game shall be the receiver in the first game of
the following set. (Rule 5 (b).)
Is it a fault if the player attempting to serve strikes at, but misses
the ball?
Yes. (Rule 19 (b).)
Has the receiver any redress if the server persists in serving before
his opponent is ready?
Yes. He should refuse to receive the service by turning his back or
holding up his hand.
Is the receiver entitled to have the point played over if the service
is delivered before he is ready, even though he tries to return it and
fails?
No. If he attempts to return the service he signifies he is ready.
Has the Umpire the power to call 'let' if he sees the server has delivered
the service before the receiver is ready, or must he wait until the receiver
appeals to him?
The Umpire has the power, and he must call the 'let'. The Umpire is
in sole control of the game.
Can the receiver volley a service that is going to be a fault?
No. If he does so he loses the point.
Rackets Clashing/Losing Racket
What is the ruling if rackets clash when returning the ball over the
net?
It is a good return - provided that the ball has been hit cleanly
(not deliberately hit twice) and no other infringement of the rules has
occurred.
Can a player, finding he cannot reach a ball, throw his racket to
make the return?
No. A ball in play can not touch the racket when the player is not
holding it, so he loses the point. (Rule 24 (i).)
As a player makes his stroke his racket slips out of his hand and
flies into the net. Does he lose the point?
Yes, if the ball is still in play. It makes no difference whether
the racket is in his hand or not.
As a player completes his shot his racket slips from his grasp, but
does not hit the net or go into his opponent's Court. Is this a good return?
Yes, because the racket was in his hand when he played the ball.
Playing with Singles Sticks
A singles match is played on a Doubles Court with the singles sticks
in position. Does a player win the point if, in making a winning shot,
he runs into that portion of the net between the singles stick and the
post?
Yes. He is not penalised, as this portion of the net is not a part
of the court within the meaning of Rule 24 (f). (Rule 2.)
A singles match is played on a Doubles Court with the singles sticks
in position. Does a player win the point if his return hits that portion
of the net between the singles stick and the post, and falls into his
opponent's Court?
No. The player who struck the ball loses the point. (Rule 2 and Rule 24 (d).)
A singles match is being played on a Doubles Court with the singles
sticks. Does a player lose the point if he touches the net between the
singles stick and the net post during play?
No. In this case the net where he touches it is a permanent fixture
- similar to the Umpire's chair. (Rule 2.)
Net/Net Post
If a ball hits the top of a net post that is more than 3 ft. 7 ins.
high (as a lot of posts are) and rebounds into the correct Court, is it
a good return?
No. Rule 1 states that the post shall not be higher than one (1) inch
above the top of the net cord. If a ball in the opinion of the Umpire
hits a net post above the 3 ft. 7 ins. level of the net he must rule that
it is not a good return and award the point against the maker of the stroke.
A ball going out of Court hits the net post and falls within the confines
of the opponent's Court. Is the stroke good?
If a service, no, under Rule 19(c). If a return, yes (Rule 25(a).)
Can a player place his foot under the net in recovering a short drop
shot?
No. Nothing a player wears or carries can touch any part of the net,
posts or the ground within his opponent's Court while the ball is in play.
(Rule 24 (f).)
Can a player bring his racket over the net - without touching it -
to make a volley?
Yes. Provided, of course, the ball passed the net before the player
made his stroke.
A player returns the ball into his opponent's Court with a heavy cut
and it rebounds back over the net. Can his opponent reach over the net
to play the ball?
Yes, provided that nothing he wears or carries touches the net, posts,
cord, strap or band or the ground within his opponent's Court. (Rule 25 (b).)
Can a player cross the imaginary line extending from the net in returning
the ball into his opponent's Court?
Yes. It is a good return provided that the player does not touch the
opponent's court or hinder the opponent in any way. (Rule 24.)
A player's return falls into Court, but is returned outside the post
and does not cross over the net. Is it a good return?
Yes. (Rule 25 (c).)
Can a player return a ball that has hit the net tape and is running
along the top of the net?
No. The player would lose the point, because the ball cannot be considered
as having crossed the net.
Hindrances & Lets
During a rally a ball is thrown or comes on to the Court from an adjoining
Court, and interferes with the player making his stroke. What shall be
done?
A let shall be called. But this shall apply only when the ball comes
into Court during play. The onus is on the players to remove loose balls
from their Courts or to have them removed. If they fail to do so, they
must abide by the consequences.
A player is prevented from returning a ball into play by seating around
the Court. Shall he be granted a let?
No. The seating is a recognised fixture of the Court. (Rule 2.)
During a rally a player runs into a roller drawn up against the fence,
and as a result he fails to return the ball and claims a let. Is his appeal
correct?
No. He should have objected to the roller before the match started.
As he failed to do so, it became a fixture of the Court.
During a rally the gallery begins to applaud, and one of the contestants
catches his opponent's return and appeals to the Umpire for a let on the
grounds that the applause was disconcerting. Does the Umpire grant a let?
No. The player loses the point. The Umpire is the sole judge, and
if he considers it necessary, he will call the let.
A player's stroke, after it has fallen in Court, hits a Linesman.
Can the opponent claim a let?
No. The player who hit the ball wins the point.
Ball Condition/Contact with Fixtures
If a ball in play becomes broken, should a let be called?
Yes, but if a ball is discovered to have become soft during a rally
(as opposed to breaking) the point must stand.
What is the ruling if a ball in play hits on the full a wire (electric
light, telephone, or the like) or any other object that is strung
across the Court?
The maker of the stroke loses the point, as the wire comes into the
category of a permanent fixture of the Court. (Rule 2 and Rule 24 (d).)
If a ball in play hits the Umpire or umpire's chair and rebounds into
the opponent's Court, is it a good return?
No. As the Umpire, umpire's chair, etc., when in their proper place,
are permanent fixtures of the Court. (Rule 2 and Rule 24 (d).)
If any Linesman on duty in a match sees a ball touch a player's clothing,
should he recognise this fact and let it influence his call?
No, the Linesman acts only in relation to the line to which he is
assigned, as to whether the ball is "in" or "out". Only the Central Umpire
can judge, and act accordingly, if a ball, whilst in play, touches a player.
Playing without Umpires
In a non-umpired match, can the receiver call foot faults against the server?
No. However a Referee or Court Supervisor may request the server to correct their foot faulting
problem.
In a non-umpired match played on clay, is a player expected to be able to show the mark if he/she
calls the ball "out"?
Yes. In normal circumstances, the player should be able to show you the ball mark when calling it "out".
In a non-umpired match played on clay, when the players disagree on which mark is the correct
mark, does the Supervisor/Referee (or assistant) have the authority to determine that a player's
mark is not a ball mark and therefore award the point to his/her opponent?
Yes.
A "roving official" (ie. a Supervisor's/Referee's assistant) makes a decision on a
ball mark in a non-umpired match played on clay. Can the player appeal this decision to the Supervisor?
No.
If you have a question about the Rules of Tennis that hasn't been answered above, send it to us and we'll explain the relevant rule and how it covers your query in a return e-mail.
