Tennis remains a prominent individual sport at the collegiate level. Colleges get their official tennis rules and regulations from the United States Tennis Association. The USTA abides by the rules of the International Tennis Association. The rules of college tennis are the same rules professional tournaments, such as the U.S. Open, utilize to determine the winner of each match.
System of Scoring
The system of scoring for college tennis is like no other sport. The score does not increase by one or two points. At the very beginning of a college tennis match, each player's score stands at zero. The term "Love" is used to describe a score of zero in college tennis. When a player in the match scores one point, his score stands at 15. A second point will increase the player's score to 30. A third scored point is indicated by a score of 40. Scoring four points will usually win the game. However, a player has to score two more points than his opponent to win. If the game is tied at 40, the players must continue until one competitor scores two more points than his opponent and wins the game.
Faults
A fault is the action that concludes each point in the game. The player who is not guilty of the fault gets one point. A common fault, yet one of the easiest to avoid, is referred to as a foot fault. When the serving player touches the baseline with his foot before completing the serve, he is guilty of a foot fault. The serving player must commit two foot faults in a row for his opponent to score a point. Another common fault includes the player hitting the ball past the baseline which is deemed out of bounds. A fault can also include the ball being hit into the net.
Service Rules
Before the first game has commenced, the collegiate players decide who will serve first by flipping a coin. The winner may serve first or allow his opponent to do so. The server must state a score of Love/Love before the first service attempt. The first serve takes place on the right half of the tennis court. The serving player must stand behind the baseline, which is the white line that outlines the court. The player must throw the ball vertically and then hit it over the net. The ball must land in the left receiving square to be considered fair. The server must switch to the left side for the second serve and hit the ball to the right receiving square. The server must follow this pattern of switching sides for each consecutive serve.
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