In tennis, each point begins with a serve. One player serves for an entire game, and then her opponent gains the right to serve for the next game. The server must follow specific rules regarding where to stand when serving. The United States Tennis Association, or USTA, follows all International Tennis Federation rules regarding the serve. These rules provide the standard for service in competitive tennis.
Coin Toss
Players must complete a coin toss before beginning to warm-up for the match. If you win the coin toss, you can choose one of three options. You can choose to decide whether to serve or receive first, you can choose whether to play first on one side of the court or the other or you can force your opponent to make one of these two choices.
If you choose to serve first, your opponent gets to choose which side to play on first. If you choose which side you want to play on first, your opponent gets to choose whether to serve or receive first.
Server Position
The server must always stand behind the baseline and inside the imaginary extensions of the sidelines to serve. A center mark divides the baseline into two equal halves. On the first serve, the server must stand to the right of the center mark to serve. After the first serve, he alternates between the left and right sides of the center mark for each serve.
The Serve
The serve must always travel cross-court and land in the service court diagonally opposite the side of the baseline the server served from. When serving from the right of the center mark, the server must serve toward the right service court on the opponent's side of the court. When serving from the left of the center mark, the server must serve toward the left service court on the opponent's side of the court.
Faults
If the server touches the baseline or center mark with either foot during the service motion or serves from the wrong side of the court, she commits a service fault. If the service fault occurs on the first serve, the server takes a second serve. If the server commits a service fault on the second serve, he loses the point.
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