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 server stands behind the baseline on the court within the boundaries of the singles court when playing singles and within the doubles sideline when playing doubles. Serves are made from the opposite court to the opponents service box on the deuce court. 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 with out penalty, this is called a let. If the server steps on the baseline before contact is made, the serve is deemed a fault.

Rule 3: 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 server receives two consecutive faults, he/she looses the point.

Rule 4: The server's score is always announced first. If the server wins the first point, he gets a score of 15. Love means zero in tennis. The second point is called 30. The third point is called 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.

            Example of scoring: 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.

             Example: 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, the ball touches him or his partner, or if the ball hits a part of the surroundings.

Rule 7: A ball that lands on the line is good.

See Court dimensions for clarification!!!