Basic Rules for Tennis

Let’s Play Tennis – Basic Rules of Tennis

For some of us who are just starting to play tennis or getting to know the game, we may need to know the basic rules of tennis. The game may seem simple when we watch it because the ball just basically needs to go from one player to the other. It is simple in a way, but it becomes more complicated with the strokes or techniques that are needed to give difficulty to your opponent in hitting the ball. The basic rules of tennis are simple but the game itself is complex.

Here are the basic rules of tennis:

Basic Rules of Tennis #1
Players stand on opposite sides of the court. The server is the player who starts to deliver the ball to start the point, and the receiver is the player who stands opposite and cross-court from the server.

Basic Rules of Tennis #2
A toss of a coin or racquet decides the player’s right to serve, receive or choose the side of the court. If the choice of service or receiver is chosen, the opponent chooses which side to start.

Basic Rules of Tennis #3
The server stands behind what is called the baseline on the deuce court inside the borders of the singles court when playing singles and inside the double sidelines when playing doubles. Even points are played from the deuce court (the service court on the player’s right) and the odd number points are played from the advantage court (the service court on the left). The server should not serve until the receiver is ready. Serves are made from server’s deuce court to opponent’s service box, or from the advantage court to advantage box. The server loses a point if the target is missed twice. If the ball hits the net but goes to the correct service box, then the server is granted another serve. The server should not step on the baseline before contact is made otherwise the serve shall be deemed a fault.

Basic Rules of Tennis #4
The receiver is believed ready if an effort is made to return the server’s ball. The receiver is allowed to stand where he likes but must allow the ball to bounce in the service box first, if he hits the ball before it bounces, the server wins the point. It is deemed a fault if the ball does not land in the service box and a second serve is given.

Basic Rules of Tennis #5
If the server wins the first point, he gets a score of 15. The second point is called 30. The third point is called 40. The game is won when the score is 40-40, also called LOVE in tennis, meaning zero. The score 40-40 is also identified as deuce, one player must win by two points. If the server wins the next point, he wins the game, this is called Advantage-In. It is called Advantage-Out if the receiver has a chance to win the game on the next point.

Basic Rules of Tennis #6
The opponent serves the next game. To win a set you have to win six games, but you also have to get two or more games than your opponent. If you get 6-6 first, you play a tiebreaker. The first player to get seven points or more wins the tiebreaker and the set.

Basic Rules of Tennis #7
The player loses the point if the ball goes to the net or outside the boundaries of the court. He also loses a point if he touches the net, drops his racquet as he’s hitting the ball, bounces the ball over the net, hits a part of the surroundings, the ball touches him or his partner, or he intentionally attempts to distract the opponent.

Basic Rules of Tennis #8
If the ball rolls on the court or there is a interruption from somebody besides the players on the court, a let is called.

Basic Rules of Tennis #9
A ball landing on the line is still good.

Basic Rules of Tennis #10
The original point or game will stand in the event of a player serving out of turn or serves to the wrong person or court.

So whether you’re a beginner just trying to get the ball in a single’s court or an advanced doubles team, tennis will always be a game of knowing where to aim the ball and following the basic rules of tennis.