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The rules of tennis are quite simple. The game itself is
complex. "
Rule 1. Opponents stand on opposite sides of the
court. The player who delivers the ball to start the
point is called the server. The player who stands
opposite and cross-court from the server is the receiver.
Rule 2. The right to serve, receive, choose your
side, or give the opponent these choices is decided
by a toss of a coin or racquet. If the choice of
service or receiver is chosen, the opponent chooses
which side to start.
Rule 3. The server shall stand behind the baseline on
the deuce court within the boundaries of the singles
court when playing singles and within the doubles
sideline when playing doubles. See
court dimensions. All even points are played from
the deuce court and odd number points played from the
advantage court. The server shall not serve until the
receiver is ready. Serves are made from the deuce court
to the opponents service box on the deuce court.
Advantage court to advantage box. If the server misses
his target twice, he loses the point. If the ball hits
the net and goes in the correct service box, another
serve is granted. If the server steps on the baseline
before contact is made, the serve is deemed a fault.
Rule 4. The receiver is deemed ready if an attempt is
made to return the server's ball. The receiver can stand
where he likes but must let the ball bounce in the
service box. If the ball does not land in the service
box, it is deemed a fault and a second serve is given.
If the ball is hit by either opponent before the ball
bounces, the server wins the point.
Rule 5. The server always calls his score first. If
the server wins the first point, he gets a score of 15.
Scoring is done like a clock. See example below. Love
means zero in tennis. The second point is called 30. The
third point is called 45 (now-a-days known as 40) and
game is won when the score goes back to love. If the
score is 40-40, also known as deuce, one side
must win by two points. Advantage-In means if the
server wins the next point, he wins the game. Advantage-Out
means the receiver has a chance to win the game on the
next point.
LOVE 15-30-40
Rule 5. After the game, the opponents serve. Games
equal 1. The first to win 6 games, by two, wins the set.
The first to win 2 sets wins the match. If the score is
6-6, a tie-breaker is played. This is scored by one's.
The first team to score 7 points winning by two wins the
set. The tiebreaker continues until one side wins by
two. Hence, Game-Set-Match.
Rule 6. If the ball goes into the net, or outside the
boundaries of the court, the player who hit that ball
loses the point. If the ball hits the net during the
point and goes into the opponents court, the ball is in
play. A player loses the point if he touches the net,
drops his racquet while hitting the ball, bounces the
ball over the net, hits a part of the surroundings such
as the roof, or a tree, the ball touches him or his
partner, he deliberately tries to distract the opponent.
Rule 7. A let is called during the point if a
ball rolls on the court or there is a distraction from
someone besides the players on the court.
Rule 8. A ball that lands on the line is good.
Rule 9. If players serve out of turn or serve to the
wrong person or court, the point or game will stand and
order will be resumed following the point or game.
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