Tennis Rules & Regulations

Wondering about the rules and etiquette of tennis? What is a "let," and who gets to call it? What's a "12-point tiebreak," when the first one to get to 10 points wins? We'll review the two main sources for tennis rules and procedures, and answer the most mystifying questions of the game.

In the United States, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the governing body of the game. The USTA is part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), so rules are consistent around the world for similar types of matches (see Resources below).

Tennis popularity is growing in the United States, with more players now than ever before. From the Quick Start tennis programs for tots, to competitive junior level tennis, to local adult league tennis and professional tennis, many of the rules are laid out so that all of the players understand the game.

Two primary sources provide the rules for tennis. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) sets rules for most match and tournament play. The book "The Rules of Tennis" provides precise instructions regarding the specifications of the tennis court size and markings, net height, racket and ball requirements. It also explains how to score the game, who serves first in a tiebreak and what to do if a player doesn't show up for a match (see Resources below). The Code, which is produced by the USTA, provides guidelines for unofficiated matches. Many recreational players must make their own line calls. Often the matches are conducted with no referees, so conflicts must be resolved among the players. The Code takes up where the Rules leaves off, with explanations of real-world situations (see Resources below). In addition to the ITF rules and The Code, other leagues may also provide their own set of rules. In World Team Tennis (WTT), for example, the scoring and format are different and the WTT rules reflect that.

One of the most unique aspects of recreational tennis is the fact that the players make the calls. No umpire or ref is standing by to ensure that everyone plays fairly. It is each player's responsibility to behave with integrity, and when in doubt, always giving the opponent the benefit of the doubt. With that said, there are a few situations that can make even an experienced player scratch his head.

A tiebreak is used to determine the winner of a set (when the set is tied at 6 games each) or of a match (when each player has won a set). Set tiebreakers are officially called 9-point tiebreakers, and match tiebreakers are usually 12-point tiebreakers. In a 9-point tiebreak, the winner must win 7 points by a margin of 2, while in a 12-point tiebreak, the winner must win 10 points by a margin of 2. Around the courts, however, these tiebreaks are generally called 7-point and 10-point tiebreaks, respectively.

A "let" basically allows for a do-over of the point in tennis. It can be called for two reasons. If the serve lands in the appropriate service box, but hits the net as it is coming over, it is called a service let, and the server gets to repeat the serve. The other type of let occurs when an intrusion occurs on the court, such as when a ball from another court rolls on to yours. Since this creates a distraction and a potentially dangerous situation, any player on your court can call a "let," move the ball and start the point again. However, if in a middle of a point a player's hat falls off onto the court, he cannot call a let because he created the situation. His opponents, however, can. Once a let is called, the point is re-played. The rules may initially seem confusing, but as you play, they'll begin to make more sense.