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The Rules Of Tennis
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The
Singles Game
20. Tennis player Loses Point
A tennis player loses the point if:
a. He fails, before the tennis ball in play has hit the ground twice
consecutively, to return it directly over the net (except as provided in
Rule 24(a) or (c)); or
b. He returns the tennis ball in play so that it hits the ground, a permanent
fixture, or other object, outside any of the lines which bound his
opponent's tennis court; or
c. He volleys the tennis ball and fails to make a good return even when
standing outside the tennis court; or
USTA Comment: A tennis ball hitting a scoring device or other object
attached to a net post results in loss of point to the striker.
d. In playing the tennis ball he deliberately carries or catches it on his
tennis racket or deliberately touches it with his tennis racket more than once; or
USTA Comment: Only when there is a definite "second push" by the
tennis player does his shot become illegal, with consequent loss of point. The
word "deliberately" is the key word in this rule. Two hits occurring in
the course of a single continuous swing are not deemed a double hit.
e. He or his tennis racket (in his hand or otherwise) or anything which he
wears or carries touches the net, posts, singles sticks, cord or metal
cable, strap or band, or the ground within his opponent's tennis court at any
time while the tennis ball is in play; or
USTA Comment: Touching a pipe support that runs across the tennis
court
at the bottom of the net is interpreted as touching the net. See USTA
Comment under Rule 23 for a tennis ball which hits a pipe support.
f. He volleys the tennis ball before it has passed the net; or
g. The tennis ball in play touches him or anything that he wears or carries,
except his tennis racket in his hand or hands; or
USTA Comment: This loss of point occurs regardless of whether the
tennis player is inside or outside the bounds of his tennis court when the
tennis ball
touches him.
h. He throws his tennis racket at and hits the tennis ball; or
i. He deliberately and materially changes the shape of his tennis racket during
the playing of the point.
Case 1. In serving, the tennis racket flies from the Server's hand and
touches the net before the tennis ball has touched the ground. Is this a fault,
or does the tennis player lose the point?
Decision: The Server loses the point because his tennis racket touches the net
whilst the tennis ball is in play (Rule 20(e)).
Case 2. In serving, the tennis racket flies from the Server's hand and
touches the net after the tennis ball has touched the ground outside the proper
tennis court. Is this a fault, or does the tennis player lose the point?
Decision: This is a fault because the tennis ball was out of play when the
tennis racket touched the net.
Case 3. A and B are playing against C and D, A is serving to D, C
touches the net before the tennis ball touches the ground. A fault is then
called because the service falls outside the Service tennis court. Do C and D
lose the point?
Decision: The call "fault" is an erroneous one. C and D had
already lost the point before "fault" could be called, because C touched
the net whilst the tennis ball was in play (Rule 20(e)).
Case 4. May a tennis player jump over the net into his opponent's
tennis court
while the tennis ball is in play and not suffer penalty?
Decision. No. He loses the point (Rule 20(e)).
Case 5. A cuts the tennis ball just over the net, and it returns to A's
side. B, unable to reach the tennis ball, throws his tennis racket and hits the
tennis ball.
Both tennis racket and tennis ball fall over the net on A's tennis court. A returns the
tennis ball
outside of B's tennis court. Does B win or lose the point?
Decision: B loses the point (Rule 20(e) and (h)).
Case 6. A tennis player standing outside the service tennis court is struck by
a service tennis ball before it has touched the ground. Does he win or lose the
point?
Decision: The tennis player struck loses the point (Rule 20(g)), except
as provided under Rule 14(a).
Case 7. A tennis player standing outside the tennis court volleys the
tennis ball or
catches it in his hand and claims the point because the tennis ball was
certainly going out of tennis court.
Decision: In no circumstances can he claim the point:
i. If he catches the tennis ball he loses the point under Rule 20(g).
ii. If he volleys it and makes a bad return he loses the point under
Rule 20(c).
iii. If he volleys it and makes a good return, the rally continues.
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