The Rules Of Tennis

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The Singles Game

1. The Tennis Tennis Court
The Tennis Tennis Court shall be a rectangle 78 feet (23.77m.) long and 27 feet (8.23m.) wide.

USTA Comment: See Rule 34 for a doubles Tennis Court.
It shall be divided across the middle by a net suspended from a cord or metal cable of a maximum diameter of one-third of an inch (0.8cm.), the ends of which shall be attached to, or pass over, the tops of two posts, which shall be not more than 6 inches (15cm.) square or 6 inches (15cm.) in diameter. These posts shall not be higher than 1 inch (2.5cm.) above the top of the net cord. The centers of the posts shall be 3 feet (.914m.) outside the Tennis Court on each side and the height of the posts shall be such that the top of the cord or metal cable shall be 3 feet 6 inches (1.07m.) above the ground.

When a combined doubles (see Rule 34) and singles Tennis Tennis Court with a doubles net is used for singles, the net must be supported to a height of 3 feet 6 inches (1.07m.) by means of two posts, called "singles sticks", which shall be not more than 3 inches (7.5cm.) square or 3 inches (7.5cm.) in diameter. The centers of the singles sticks shall be 3 feet (.914m.) outside the singles Tennis Court on each side.

The net shall be extended fully so that it fills completely the space between the two posts and shall be of sufficiently small mesh to prevent the ball passing through. The height of the net shall be 3 feet (.914m.) at the center, where it shall be held down taut by a strap not more than 2 inches (5cm.) wide and completely white in color. There shall be a band covering the cord or metal cable and the top of the net of not less than 2 inches (5cm.) nor more than 21/2 inches (6.35cm.) in depth on each side and completely white in color. There shall be no advertisement on the net, strap, band or singles sticks.
The lines bounding the ends and sides of the Tennis Court shall respectively be called the base-lines and the side-lines. On each side of the net, at a distance of 21 feet (6.40m.) from it and parallel with it, shall be drawn the service-lines. The space on each side of the net between the service-line and the side-lines shall be divided into two equal parts called the service-Tennis Courts by the center service-line, which must be 2 inches (5cm.) in width, drawn half-way between, and parallel with, the side-lines.

USTA Comment: The following is an approved method for obtaining proper net tautness. First, loosen the center strap. Next, tighten the net cord until it is approximately 40 inches above the ground, being careful not to over tighten the net. Finally, tighten the center strap until the center of the net is 36 inches above the ground. These measurements should always be made before the first match of the day.

Each base-line shall be bisected by an imaginary continuation of the center service-line to a line 4 inches (10cm.) in length and 2 inches (5cm.) in width called the "center mark" drawn inside the Tennis Court, at right angles to and in contact with such base-lines. All other lines shall be not less than 1 inch (2.5cm.) nor more than 2 inches (5cm.) in width, except the base-line, which may be not more than 4 inches (10cm.) in width, and all measurements shall be made to the outside of the lines. All lines shall be of uniform color. If advertising or any other material is placed at the back of the Tennis Court, it may not contain white, or yellow. A light color may only be used if this does not interfere with the vision of the players.

If advertisements are placed on the chairs of the linesmen sitting at the back of the Tennis Court, they may not contain white or yellow. A light color may only be used if this does not interfere with the vision of the players.

ITF Note 1: In Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Official Championships of the International Tennis Federation, specific requirements with regard to the space behind the baseline and at the sides are included in the respective Regulations for these events.
ITF Note 2: At club or recreational level, the space behind each baseline should be not less than 18 feet (5.5m) and at the sides not less than 10 feet (3.05m).