Tennis is played on a rectangular court with racquets. The objective is to score points by hitting a tennis ball over a net to your opponent. The tennis net is 3 feet high in the center, and is held in place by net posts, one on each side. According to U.S. Tennis Association rules, net posts can be no more than 6 inches square or 6 inches in diameter. They cannot extend more than one-inch above the net cord. Certain rules regarding net posts and game play also apply.
Served Ball
If your serve comes into contact with the net post in any fashion, it is considered a fault. This includes deflecting off the net post and landing in the proper area in your opponent's court. When the rules of tennis were created, it was believed that the server should not benefit from any misguided or misdirected serves, according to the USTA.
Returned Ball
If you are in the process of returning the ball to your opponent and it hits the net post and deflects out of bounds, you lose the point. If your return hits the net post and then lands in your opponent's court, the ball is still live and play continues,
Singles Match with Doubles Nets
If you are playing a singles match but using a doubles net with singles sticks, the net posts are considered a permanent fixture and are not in play. Doubles nets are wider than a singles net, so singles sticks are placed inside the net posts to make the dimensions of the playing area suitable for a singles match.
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