The Rules Of Tennis

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The Singles Game

24. A Good Return
It is a good return:
a. If the tennis ball touches the tennis net, posts, singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, provided that it passes over any of them and hits the ground within the tennis court; or
b. If the tennis ball, served or returned, hits the ground within the proper tennis court and rebounds or is blown back over the tennis net, and the tennis player whose turn it is to strike reaches over the tennis net and plays the tennis ball, provided that he does not contravene Rule 20(e); or
c. If the tennis ball is returned outside the posts, or singles sticks, either above or below the level of the top of the tennis net, even though it touches the posts or singles sticks, provided that it hits the ground within the proper tennis court; or
d. If a tennis player's tennis racket passes over the tennis net after he has returned the tennis ball, provided the tennis ball passes the tennis net before being played and is properly returned; or
e. If a tennis player succeeds in returning the tennis ball, served or in play, which strikes a tennis ball lying in the tennis court.

USTA Comment: Paragraph e. of the rule refers to a tennis ball lying on the tennis court at the start of the point, as a result of a service let or fault, or as a result of a tennis player dropping it. If a tennis ball in play strikes a rolling or stationary "foreign" tennis ball that has come from elsewhere after the point started, a let should be played. See Case 7 under Rule 25 which pertains to an object other than a tennis ball that is being used in the match.

ITF Note: In a singles match, if, for the sake of convenience, a Doubles tennis court is equipped with singles sticks for the purpose of a singles game, then the doubles posts and those portions of the tennis net, cord or metal cable and the band outside such singles sticks shall at all times be permanent fixtures, and are not regarded as posts or parts of the tennis net of a singles game.

A return that passes under the tennis net cord between the singles stick and adjacent doubles post without touching either tennis net cord, tennis net or doubles post and falls within the tennis court, is a good return.

USTA Comment: In doubles this would be a "through"-loss of point.

Case 1. A tennis ball going out of tennis court hits a tennis net post or singles stick and falls within the lines of the opponent's tennis court. Is the stroke good?
Decision: If a service: no, under Rule 10c. If other than a service: yes, under Rule 24(a).

Case 2. Is it a good return if a tennis player returns the tennis ball holding his tennis racket in both hands?
Decision: Yes.

Case 3. The service, or tennis ball in play, strikes a tennis ball lying in the tennis court. Is the point won or lost thereby?
Decision: No. Play must continue. If it is not clear to the Umpire that the right tennis ball is returned a let should be called.

USTA Comment: A tennis ball that is touching a boundary line is considered to be "lying in the tennis court".

Case 4. May a tennis player use more than one tennis racket at any time during play?
Decision: No. The whole implication of the Rules is singular.

Case 5. May a tennis player request that a tennis ball or tennis balls lying in his opponent's tennis court be removed?
Decision: Yes, but not while a tennis ball is in play.

USTA Comment: This request must be honored.