Rules of Tennis

Question 1

What is the height of the net at the net post?

Answer 1

3.5 feet (1.07 m)

Question 2

A player stops play during a point and hands you a ball saying it is soft. You inspect the ball and agree that it is a soft ball. What do you do?

Answer 2

The player who stopped play loses the point, replace the ball.

Change ball because it is soft.
Loss of point as this was requested mid point. ie. stopped to check.
(Double check soft ball regulations)

Question 3

At a local tournament it is decided that the ball change for all matches will be at the start of the third set. In the third set, a ball is broken during the second service game. The ball should be replaced with a:

Answer 3

New ball.

(Find out why? is it like for like and only 2 games worth of use?

Question 4

From what moment is the ball in play?

Answer 4

When the server hits the ball

Question 5

When should the second service be served?

Answer 5

Without delay (once the court is ready again, i.e. the fault ball has been cleared)

Question 6

How much time does the receiver have between points?

Answer 6

The receiver shall play to the reasonable pace of the server

Question 7

During a point, a player’s hat falls off and touches the net. This is a:

Answer 7

Loss of point for the player

Question 8

In a match with no ballkids, a serve hits another ball which is lying in the correct server’s box. What happens next?

Answer 8

Play continues, as long as the chair umpire is sure that the correct ball is returned (otherwise a let should be called)

Question 9

During a long rally a player’s cap falls off. The ball is returned into the correct court and the opponent is hindered when they see the cap fall. Earlier in the match, a point was replayed because a ball fell out of the same player’s pocket. This is a:

Answer 9

Deliberate Hindrance, player loses point

Question 10

At the start of a standard game in a doubles match, Player A serves a first serve fault when it is discovered that his/her partner Player B should be serving. How is this error corrected?

Answer 10

The order of service shall be corrected immediately, Player B to serve a second serve, the fault shall stand.

Question 11

Correcting Errors:
Player serves from the wrong side of the court.

Answer 11

Correct immediately, service fault stands.

Question 12

Correcting Errors:
Players are at wrong ends of the court.

Answer 12

Correct immediately, service fault does not stand.

Question 13

Correcting Errors:
In a regular game, a player serves out of turn.
(Rule 27 c&d)

Answer 13

If the game is not complete - correct immediately.
If the game is complete - order remains as altered and ball change 1 game later than agreed

Question 14

Correcting Errors:
In a regular game, a player serves out of turn and a fault in singles.
(Rule 27 c&d)

Answer 14

Does not count, and correct immediately.

Question 15

Correcting Errors:
In a regular game, a player serves out of turn with a service fault in doubles.
(Rule 27 c&d)

Answer 15

The fault counts if the partner serves out of turn, but it does not count if opposing team serves out of turn.

Question 16

Correcting Errors:
In a tie-break - if a player serves out of turn and it is even number of points.

Answer 16

Correct immediately

Question 17

Correcting Errors:
In a tie-break - if a player serves out of turn and it is odd number of points.

Answer 17

Order remains as altered.

Question 18

Correcting Errors:
In a tie-break - if a player serves out of turn and does a fault in singles.

Answer 18

It does not count.

Question 19

Correcting Errors:
In a tie-break - if a player serves out of turn and it is a service fault in doubles.

Answer 19

Counts if partner serves out of turn, does not count if opposing team serves out of term. ie. Team A were meant to serve, and team A partner does a fault it count. If Team B were meant to serve, and Team B does a fault, it does not count.

Question 20

Correcting Errors:
If a player receives out of turn in doubles (ie deuce court when they should be in the ad court)

Answer 20

Order remains as altered until the end of the game. Resume the original receiving order in the next game of that set in which the team in question is due to receive.

Question 21

Correcting Errors:
Tie-break game is played instead of an advantage set.

Answer 21

If only 1 point has been played - correct immediately. After 2nd point was played, finish the set as a tie-break set.

Question 22

Correcting Errors:
Standard game instead of a tiebreak set.

Answer 22

After 1 point played, correct immediately.
After 2nd point was played, set continues as an advantage set.
If score reaches 8-8 or a higher even number (ie. 10-10, 12-12 etc) play a tie break.

Question 23

Correcting Errors:
If it should be a match tie-break and an Advantage set or tiebreak set is played instead.

Answer 23

Only 1 point played - correct immediately.
After 2nd point was played - player or team wins 3 games wins the set
If score reaches 2-2, play a match tie break.
After 2nd point of the 5th game is in play, continue set as a tie break set.

Question 24

Announcements:
Tiebreak scoring. Kyrgios 4 - Tsisipas 6

Answer 24

6 - 4 Tsisipas. Always the leading players score first, and the players name at the end.

Question 25

Set Scores:
With a Scoreboard Jones vs Smith
1-0

Answer 25

Game Jones, first game.

Question 26

Set Scores:
Smith wins the game.
Now the Scoreboard Jones vs Smith
1-1

Answer 26

Game Smith, one game all.

Question 27

Set Scores:
Jones wins the game.
With a Scoreboard Jones vs Smith
2-1

Answer 27

Games Jones, Jones leads two games to one.

Question 28

Set Scores:
Jones wins game, this is still the first set
With a Scoreboard Jones vs Smith
6-1

Answer 28

Game and first set Jones, six games to one.