Serving in tennis may seem simple--you toss the ball and hit it over the net--but the International Tennis Federation and the U.S. Tennis Association maintain a list of rules regulating how and where each serve should occur. A working knowledge of these rules will strengthen your game and lessen disputes that occur between you and your opponents.
Order of Service
Flipping a coin is one method to determine who will serve first for the match and who gets which end of the court. The ITF rules stipulate that the winner of the toss can choose either who serves first or which end of the court they wish to play on; if the winner chooses who will serve, the opponent decides who will play on each end of court and vice versa. The USTA's "Improve Your Game" website column suggests an alternate method for people who don't have a coin. Players choose "up" or "down" and spin a racket. The logo on the racket's butt cap determines the winner. The last player to receive during regular set play serves first in a tiebreaker.
Serving Position
The server begins a game on the right--or "deuce"--side of the court, behind the baseline and between the center mark and single sideline. After the first point, the server alternates between the left--or "advantage"--side and the deuce side.
The Serve
The server gets into position behind the baseline and tosses the ball. She must hit the ball over the net before it touches the ground. The ball should land in the service box diagonal to the side of the court from which the server is standing. If the ball touches any part of a line in the correct service box, it is good.
Service Faults
Service faults occur if a player misses the ball when trying to serve; the ball touches the player; the ball touches a net post, singles stick or other permanent fixture before hitting the ground; the ball lands out of bounds or in the incorrect service box. If the first serve results in a fault, the player gets a second serve. If this serve is also a fault, the player loses the point.
Lets
When a let occurs, the player gets another chance to serve--her first attempt at serving is voided and replayed. If the let occurs on first serve, the player gets another first serve. If it occurs on second serve, the player gets another second serve. The serve is a let when a player serves before her opponent is ready or when she serves into the service box but it clips the net.
Foot Faults
A foot fault occurs when a server's foot touches the baseline or center mark, the imaginary extension of the sideline or center mark or the area outside the extension. A player who changes position by running or walking is also guilty of a foot fault.
Pace
In tennis, play occurs at the pace of the person who is serving. To prevent servers from taking advantage of this, the ITF enforces a time limit. Players have 20 seconds beginning from the end of the last point in which to serve.
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