New players can start a singles match without memorizing every detail of the rulebook. The basics are simple: serve diagonally into the correct box, keep the ball inside the singles court, and win points by making your opponent miss or hit an illegal shot.
The scoring can sound strange at first, and small rules about serves and boundaries can cause confusion. Here’s a practical guide to the singles tennis rules beginners need most, with examples of how they work during a match.
The Singles Court and Its Boundaries
Singles is played one against one. The court is 78 feet long, and the singles court is 27 feet wide. Look for the inner sidelines: those mark the left and right edges of the court in singles. The wider alleys outside them are used for doubles, so a ball landing there during a singles rally is out. The baseline marks the back of the court.
A ball that touches any part of a boundary line is in. So, if a shot clips the singles sideline, it counts, even if most of the ball lands outside the line.
How to Serve in Singles
Each point starts with a serve. The server stands behind the baseline, between the imaginary extensions of the center mark and the singles sideline. The server must not step on or over the baseline before hitting the ball; doing so is a foot fault.
Serve diagonally into the service box on the other side of the net. The first point of a game is served from the right side of the court. The server switches sides after each point, aiming left, then right, and so on. The receiver can stand anywhere on their side of the court, as long as they do not hit the serve before it bounces.
The server gets two attempts. If the first serve misses the correct box, it is a fault, and the server tries again. If the second serve also misses, that is a double fault, and the receiver wins the point. A serve that touches the net but lands in the correct service box is a let: the server retakes that serve without penalty.
How a Point Is Won
After a legal serve lands in the service box and bounces, players hit the ball back and forth over the net. Each player may let the ball bounce once before returning it, or hit it in the air with a volley. A shot that lands outside the singles court, hits the net and does not cross, or bounces twice before being returned loses the point.
You also lose the point if the ball touches you or your clothing, or if you touch the net while the ball is in play. For example, a player who reaches over and brushes the net while chasing a short ball loses the point, even if the shot would otherwise have been a winner.
Once a shot lands in, the rally continues until someone misses, hits the ball out, or breaks a rule. A ball that lands on a line is still in, so give your opponent the benefit of the doubt if you cannot clearly see where it landed.
Tennis Scoring: Points, Games, and Sets
Singles uses a distinctive point score. The points in a standard game go from love (zero) to 15, 30, and 40. The server’s score is called first. For example, “30–15” means the server has won two points and the receiver has won one.
At 40–40, the score is called deuce. In standard scoring, a player must win two points in a row from deuce to take the game. The first point after deuce gives that player advantage. If the player with advantage wins the next point, they win the game; if they lose it, the score returns to deuce. Some recreational matches use no-ad scoring, where the next point after deuce decides the game. Agree on the format before you start.
A player usually needs six games to win a set, with a lead of at least two games. If the score reaches 6–6, many matches use a tiebreak. In a standard tiebreak, the first player to reach seven points with a two-point lead wins it. Some competitions use different set or tiebreak formats, so check the rules for your event.
Matches are commonly best of three sets: the first player to win two sets takes the match. Some men’s matches at major events use best of five sets. Recreational matches may use shorter formats to save time.
Serving Order and Changing Ends
Players take turns serving whole games. If you served the first game, your opponent serves the second, and you serve the third. The receiver becomes the server in the next game, and the pattern continues throughout the set.
Players change ends after the first game and then after every two games—for example, after games three, five, and seven. During a tiebreak, players change ends after every six points. These breaks help keep conditions fair when sun, wind, or court surface affects one end more than the other.
Simple Ways to Avoid Common Rule Confusion
- Call the score before serving. Say the server’s score first, then the receiver’s. It helps both players keep track.
- Watch the singles sidelines. The outer doubles alleys are out in singles, even though they look like part of the court.
- Give close calls some space. If you are unsure whether a ball was out, play it as in. Make calls promptly and clearly.
- Know your match format. Confirm whether you are using advantage or no-ad scoring, and whether a tiebreak is played at 6–6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the ball land on the line in singles?
Yes. A ball touching any part of the singles sideline or baseline is in. The wider doubles alley is out during a singles match.
What happens if a serve hits the net?
If it touches the net and lands in the correct diagonal service box, it is a let and the server repeats that serve. If it lands outside the box, it is a fault.
Can you hit the ball before it bounces?
Yes. You can volley the ball after it has crossed the net, as long as you do not touch the net or reach across and interfere with your opponent’s shot. You must let a serve bounce before returning it.
How many points do you need to win a tennis match?
There is no fixed point total. You win games, sets, and then the match. The number of points depends on how many rallies each game and tiebreak takes.
Final Thoughts
For a beginner, the key singles rules are the court boundaries, the diagonal serve, the two-serve limit, and the point-game-set scoring system. Once those feel familiar, the rest becomes easier to follow while you play. Keep the score clearly, make honest line calls, and focus on getting one more ball back over the net.
