In regulation tennis matches, the player receiving the serve loses the point if he tries to return the serve before it has bounced once. This rule is in place because officials need to see the ball bounce in order to determine whether the serve is good; if you hit the serve before it bounces, you run the risk of losing out on a point if the serve was headed out of bounds.
Serving Rules
If you're serving the ball, you must stand behind the baseline and between the center mark and sideline. Begin on the right side of the court, then alternate sides with each serve. Toss the ball into the air with your non-playing hand and hit it before it reaches the ground. The ball must land in the opposite front-court area. If the first serve is unsuccessful, you get a second try.
Receiving the Serve
As long as you let the serve bounce before returning it, anything goes; you can hit it anywhere within the court boundaries, thus beginning normal game play. In doubles, the player manning the side of the court that the ball is served to must be the one to return the serve. One way to lose the point on the return is if the ball hits a permanent fixture before bouncing.
Serving Tips
The serve is the one shot you have total control of in tennis, so proper form and setup are essential to getting it right. To control the ball's direction and reduce errors, line up your feet with where you want the ball to land, with your back foot parallel to the baseline and your front foot at an angle. Hold the ball straight out in front of you before tossing it, and shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot between the toss and the serve.
Receiving Tips
The split-step stance helps you prepare to receive a serve. Do a slight hop before lowering yourself into the ready position. Balance on the balls of your feet to allow for quick movement and keep your knees bent slightly. You can pick up cues from the server's ball toss to predict where the ball will land; look for changes in the height or location of the toss.
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