Rules & Regulations
Service & Return Rules
This section brings together how a point starts, what makes a serve legal or faulty, how serve return works, and when a serve or point must be repeated.
At a Glance
What This Section Covers
- The service
- Service faults
- Return of serve
- Net service and let situations
Official Rule Breakdown
The Service
Every point begins with a serve. If the first serve is not valid, the server is allowed a second serve.
The server stands behind the service line within the correct service box, between the imaginary extension of the central service line and the side wall, and remains there until the ball has been served.
The server bounces the ball inside the corresponding service box and serves diagonally into the receiver's service box. The ball may not cross the service line or imaginary service line before it is struck.
Legal Serve Action
The ball must be struck at or below waist height, and the server must keep at least one foot in contact with the ground at the moment of contact.
The server may not walk, run, or jump while serving, although small foot movements that do not change the service position are accepted.
Contact with the ball, or an intentional attempt to hit it, counts as the serve. If a serve is made from the wrong side or out of turn, the error is corrected when discovered while points already played remain valid under the rule.
Service Faults
A service fault can occur if the server breaks the service-position rules, misses the ball, serves outside the correct receiving box, or hits the server, partner, or their equipment.
The serve is also faulty if, after landing in the receiving box, it touches the metallic fence before the second bounce, or exits directly through gates on a court where out-of-court play is not authorised.
Return of Serve
The receiver must allow the served ball to bounce inside the receiving service box and must return it before it bounces a second time.
The receiving order is chosen at the start of each set and alternates during the game. If the order is accidentally changed, it continues until the end of that game or tie-break, then returns to the original order.
If the served ball hits a receiving player or their racket before bouncing, the point is awarded to the server.
Net, Let and Repeated Points
A net service may be repeated when the served ball touches the net or supporting post and still lands correctly, provided it does not touch the metallic fence before the second bounce.
A serve may also be repeated if the receiver was not ready. A first-serve let gives the server two serves again, while a second-serve let repeats only the second serve.
A point may also be repeated as a let if the ball splits, an outside object enters the court, an object on the opponent's ground moves dangerously, or an unexpected situation interrupts play. The player must call the let immediately, and the umpire decides whether it applies.
In Practice
- The most common service issues for players are standing in the wrong position, striking the ball too high, or forgetting that the serve must be diagonal.
- The receiver cannot claim they were not ready if they attempted to return the serve.
- If a let happens after a second serve, the server repeats only the second serve. If the whole point is interrupted, the full point is repeated.