Tennis rules

Tennis rules, in plain words.

Scoring, serving and play, singles or doubles. One picture per rule, and every rule names the clause it comes from.

Checked against the ITF Rules of Tennis, 2026 editionLast checked Read the official rulebook ↗

The tennis court

Net Doubles alley Backcourt Service box Service box Service box Service box Backcourt Doubles alley Centre mark 6.40 m (21 ft) 23.77 m (78 ft) Doubles 10.97 m (36 ft) Singles 8.23 m (27 ft)
Drawn to scale. Doubles adds an alley down each side.
  • 23.77 × 8.23 m (78 × 27 ft) for singles Rule 1
  • 10.97 m (36 ft) wide for doubles Rule 1
  • Service line 6.40 m (21 ft) from the net. A short centre mark halves each baseline Rule 1
1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) at the posts 0.914 m (3 ft) in the centre Centre strap
  • Net 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) high at the posts Rule 1
  • 0.914 m (3 ft) in the centre, held down by a white strap Rule 1

How does tennis scoring work?

Loveno points 151 point 302 points 403 points Game4th point Both on 40? Deuce win Advantage win Game Lose the next point: back to deuce
  • Points go love, 15, 30, 40, game Rule 5 (a)
  • At 40–40 it’s deuce: you then need two points in a row Rule 5 (a)
  • No-ad scoring swaps deuce for one deciding point All formats Appendix VI

Calling the score

“30–15”: the server’s score comes first.
  • Always call the server’s score first Rule 5 (a)
  • After deuce, call “Advantage” for whoever wins the next point Rule 5 (a)
  • In a tiebreak, plain numbers: zero, 1, 2, 3… Rule 5 (b)

Sets, matches and the tiebreak

6–4SETtwo games clear 6–5PLAY ONonly one clear 7–5SETtwo games clear 6–6TIEBREAKset ends 7–6
  • A set is first to 6 games, 2 clear Rule 6
  • Tiebreak set: at 6–6, one tiebreak game decides it, 7–6 Rule 6 (b)
  • Advantage set: no tiebreak. Play on until someone is two games clear Rule 6 (a)
  • Matches are best of 3 or 5 sets. Organisers say in advance how the final set is played Rule 6, 7
Tennis tiebreak rules, in full →

Tennis serving rules

IN FAULT S Net Stand here for the first point: behind the baseline, right of the centre mark Aim diagonally
  • Stand behind the baseline, between the centre mark and the sideline Rule 16
  • Start every game from the right, then switch sides each point Rule 17
  • The serve must land in the diagonal service box Rule 17
  • Two tries. Two faults in a row, a double fault, lose the point Rule 20, 24 (a)
  • A serve that clips the net and lands in is a let: serve again Rule 22
FAULTFoot touches the baseline while serving Rule 18 (b)
FAULTSwing at the toss and miss Rule 19 (b)
again
ALLOWEDCatch a bad toss and start again Rule 19, Case 1
ALLOWEDDoubles: serve from behind the alley Rule 18, Case 1

Is the ball in or out?

COURT OUTSIDE IN touches the line OUT misses the line The line is part of the court
  • A ball touching any part of a line is in Rule 12
  • In a rally, a ball that clips the net and lands in plays on Rule 25 (a)
  • Hit the fence, a chair or an official before it bounces: you lose the point Rule 2, 13

How you lose a point

Any one of these loses the point, whether you are serving or receiving. Rule 24

Ball bounces twice before you hit it Rule 24 (b)
Your shot lands out Rule 24 (c)
You or your racket touch the net Rule 24 (g)
×2You hit the ball twice on purpose Rule 24 (f)
You hit it before it crosses the net Rule 24 (h)
The ball touches you or your clothes Rule 24 (i)

When to change ends

GAMES IN A SET 123456789 Change ends after every odd game: 1, 3, 5, 7…
  • After the 1st, 3rd, 5th and every odd game of a set Rule 10
  • After a set with an even number of games, change after game 1 of the next Rule 10
  • In a tiebreak, every 6 points Rule 10
  • Up to 90 seconds at a change of ends. No rest after game 1 of a set or during a tiebreak Rule 29 (a)

Doubles serving and receiving order

A1 A2 B1 B2 Net Alley: in once the serve is returned Alley The serve still lands in the singles service box
First point of a game: A1 serves from the right.
  • Each team picks who serves first in a set. Partners then take turns, game by game Rule 14
  • Receivers pick who takes the first point, then take turns, point by point, all set Rule 15
  • After the return, either partner may hit. Both touching it on one shot loses the point Rule 15, 24 (l)
  • Alleys count once the serve is returned. The serve still lands in the service box Rule 1, 17
  1. A1 serves
  2. B1 serves
  3. A2 serves
  4. B2 serves

Common questions

How does tennis scoring work?

Points go love, 15, 30, 40, game, and you need two points in a row after deuce. Six games, two clear, win a set. At 6–6 a tiebreak set goes to a tiebreak, while an advantage set plays on. Win two sets (best of 3) or three (best of 5) to win the match.

What happens at deuce in tennis?

At 40–40 the score is deuce. Win the next point for advantage, and the one after for the game. Lose a point at advantage and it is deuce again. With no-ad scoring, one deciding point is played instead.

What are the tiebreak rules in tennis?

At 6–6 in a tiebreak set, points are counted 1, 2, 3. The first to 7 points, two clear, wins the set 7–6. One player serves the first point, then each side serves two in a row, and players change ends every 6 points.

What is no-ad scoring in tennis?

An approved ITF option where deuce is settled by one deciding point. The receiver chooses which side to receive it on, and whoever wins it wins the game. In doubles the receiving pair can’t swap places for it.

What are the match tiebreak rules?

A match tiebreak replaces the deciding set at one set all, or two sets all in a best-of-5 match. It is first to 10 points, two clear, or first to 7 if organisers choose that version. The serving order carries on from the set before.

Is the ball in if it touches the line?

Yes. A ball that touches any part of a line counts as landing in the court that line marks out.

What if the serve hits the net?

If it clips the net, strap or band and lands in the right box, it is a let: serve again. A let doesn’t cancel an earlier fault, so a let on a second serve is still a second serve. Some events play the no-let option, where that serve is in play.

NextFormats and variationsNo-ad scoring, match tiebreaks, short sets. HistoryRule changesWhat changed in the 2025 and 2026 rules, before and after.

Rules are written by 1SCOR in our own words and checked against the official rulebook. They are not the rulebook: for anything official, read the rulebook itself.