PART 1—ITF RULES of TENNIS Explanatory Note
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PART 1—ITF RULES OF TENNIS Explanatory Note CONTENTS OF THE ITF RULES OF TENNIS The following Rules of Tennis and Cases and Decisions are the official THE SINGLES GAME rules of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), of which the United States 1 The Court . 7 Tennis Association (USTA) is a member. USTA Comments have the same 2 Permanent Fixtures . 8 weight and force in USTA tournaments as do ITF Cases and Decisions. 3 The Ball . 9 When a match is played without officials, The Code shall apply in any 4 The Racket . 10 5Server & Receiver. 2. situation. not. .covered . .by . the. Rules. of. Tennis.. 1 6 Choice of Ends & Service . 12 Except where otherwise stated, every reference in the Rules of Tennis to 7 The Service . 12 8 Foot Fault . 13 the masculine includes the feminine gender. 9 Delivery of Service. 14 10 Service Fault . 15 11 Second Service . 15 THE SINGLES GAME 12 When to Serve . 16 13 The Let. 16 1. THE COURT 14 The “Let” in Service . 17 15Order of Service . 17. The. Court. shall. .be .a rectangle. .78 . feet. (23.77. .m) . long. .and . 27. feet. .(8.23 . .m) . wide. 16 When Players Change Ends . 18 17 The Ball in Play . 18 18 Server Wins Point . 19 USTA Comment: See Rule 34 for a doubles court. 19 Receiver Wins Point. 19 20 Player Loses Point . 19 21 Player Hinders Opponent . 21 It shall be divided across the middle by a net suspended from a cord or 22 Ball Falls on Line . 22 metal cable of a maximum diameter of one-third of an inch (0.8 cm), the ends 23 Ball Touches Permanent Fixtures. 22 24 A Good Return . 23 of which shall be attached to, or pass over, the tops of two posts, which shall 25Hindrance of a Player . be. not. .more . than. .6 inches. (15. .cm) . square. or. 6. inches. .(15 . cm). in24 diameter. 26 Score in a Game . 25 These posts shall not be higher than 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the top of the net 27 Score in a Set . 27 28 Maximum Number of Sets . 29 cord. The centres of the posts shall be 3 feet (.914 m) outside the Court on 29 Role of Court Officials. 29 each side and the height of the posts shall be such that the top of the cord or 30 Continuous Play & Rest Periods . 30 31 Coaching . 34 metal cable shall be 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) above the ground. 32 Ball Change . 35 When a combined doubles (see Rule 34) and singles Court with a doubles net is used for singles, the net must be supported to a height of 3 feet 6 inches THE DOUBLES GAME (1.07 m) by means of two posts, called “singles sticks”, which shall be not 33 The Doubles Game. 35 34 The Doubles Court. 35 more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) square or 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter. The 35Order of Service in Doubles . centres. of. the. .singles . sticks. shall. be. 3 .feet . (.914. m). .outside . 35the singles Court 36 Order of Receiving in Doubles . 36 on each side. 37 Service Out of Turn in Doubles. 36 38 Error in Order of Receiving in Doubles . 36 The net shall be extended fully so that it fills completely the space between 39 Service Fault in Doubles. 37 the two posts and shall be of sufficiently small mesh to prevent the ball pass- 40 Playing the Ball in Doubles . 37 ing through. The height of the net shall be 3 feet (.914 m) at the centre, where it shall be held down taut by a strap not more than 2 inches (5 cm) wide and RULES OF WHEELCHAIR TENNIS . 37 completely white in colour. There shall be a band covering the cord or metal 1 Appendix I—Regulations for Making Tests Specified in Rule 3. 42 cable and the top of the net of not less than 2 inches (5 cm) nor more than 2 ⁄2 Appendix II—Alternative Scoring Methods (Rule 27) . 44 inches (6.35 cm) in depth on each side and completely white in colour. There Appendix III—Procedures for Review and Hearings on the Rules of Tennis . 44 shall be no advertisement on the strap, band or singles sticks. Advertising is Plan of the Court . 50 Suggestions on How to Mark Out a Court . 51 allowed on the net as long as it is placed on the part of the net that is within 3 feet (.914 m) of each net post and is produced in such a way that it is still pos- sible to see through the net. The advertising may not contain white or yellow. 6 CONTENTS OF THE ITF RULES OF TENNIS RULES OF TENNIS 7 The lines bounding the ends and sides of the Court shall respectively be above the Court, and the Umpire, Net-cord Judge, Footfault Judge, Linesmen called the base-lines and the side-lines. On each side of the net, at a distance of and Ball Boys when in their respective places. 21 feet (6.40 m) from it and parallel with it, shall be drawn the service-lines. ITF Note: For the purpose of this Rule, the word “Umpire” comprehends the The space on each side of the net between the service-line and the side-lines Umpire, the persons entitled to a seat on the Court, and all those persons des- shall be divided into two equal parts called the service-courts by the centre ignated to assist the Umpire in the conduct of a match. service-line, which must be 2 inches (5 cm) in width, drawn half-way between, and parallel with, the side-line. Each base-line shall be bisected by an imagi- 3. THE BALL nary continuation of the centre service-line to a line 4 inches (10 cm) in length Balls that are approved for play under the Rules of Tennis must comply and 2 inches (5 cm) in width called “the centre mark” drawn inside the Court, with the following specifications: at right angles to and in contact with such base-lines. All other lines shall be a. The ball shall have a uniform outer surface consisting of a fabric not less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) nor more than 2 inches (5 cm) in width, except cover and shall be white or yellow in colour. If there are any seams they shall the base-line which may be not more than 4 inches (10 cm) in width, and all be stitchless. measurements shall be made to the outside of the lines. All lines shall be of b. The ball shall conform to the requirements specified in Appendix I uniform colour. If advertising or any other material is placed at the back of the (Regulations for making tests specified in Rule 3.), Section iv for size and be Court, it may not contain white, or yellow. A light colour may only be used if more than 1.975 ounces (56.0 grams) and less than 2.095 ounces (59.4 this does not interfere with the vision of the players. grams) in weight. If advertisements are placed on the chairs of the linesmen sitting at the c. More than one type of ball is specified. Each ball shall have a bound of back of the court, they may not contain white or yellow. A light colour may more than 53 inches (134.62 cm) and less than 58 inches (147.32 cm) when only be used if this does not interfere with the vision of the players. dropped 100 inches (254.00 cm) upon a flat, rigid surface e.g., concrete. Ball ITF Note 1: In Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Official Championships of the In- Type 1 (fast speed) shall have a forward deformation of more than .195 inch- ternational Tennis Federation, specific requirements with regard to the space es (.495 cm) and less than .235 inches (.597 cm) and return deformation of behind the baseline and at the sides are included in the respective Regulations more than .265 inches (.673 cm) and less than .360 inches (.914 cm) at 18 lb. for these events. (8.165 kg) load. Ball Types 2 (medium speed) and 3 (slow speed) shall have a ITF Note 2: At club or recreational level, the space behind each baseline forward deformation of more than .220 inches (.559 cm) and less than .290 should be not.