Tennis is a racket sport in which players strike a felt-covered ball over a net into a marked court, and the core tennis rules require each player to land the ball within the opponent's boundaries while following a structured scoring sequence. It can be played as singles, with one player on each side, or doubles, with two. The sport is governed worldwide by the International Tennis Federation and is contested on hard, clay and grass surfaces.
What Tennis Is
Tennis is played on a rectangular court divided by a net stretched across the middle. The aim is to hit the ball so that the opponent cannot return it legally before it bounces twice. A point is won when an opponent fails to return the ball into the correct area, hits it into the net, or sends it beyond the boundary lines.
The sport demands a mix of power, footwork, timing and endurance. Rallies can be short, ending on a single decisive shot, or extended exchanges where players manoeuvre each other around the court. Tennis shares its racket-sport family with table tennis and badminton, though it is distinguished by its larger court and the bounce of the ball.
Rules and How to Play
Play begins with a serve, struck from behind the baseline into the diagonally opposite service box. The server has two attempts; a fault on both is a double fault and concedes the point. The receiver must let the serve bounce once before returning it, after which the ball may be struck before or after a single bounce.
- The ball must clear the net and land within the court's boundaries.
- A player loses the point if the ball bounces twice on their side.
- Touching the net, hitting the ball before it crosses, or striking it twice are all faults.
- A serve that clips the net but lands in the correct box is replayed as a let.
Players change ends after odd-numbered games to balance any advantage from sun or wind.
Scoring
Tennis uses a distinctive scoring ladder. Within a game, points are counted as 15, 30 and 40, with the first being described as love. If both players reach 40, the score is deuce, and a player must then win two consecutive points, the first being called advantage.
Games are grouped into sets. A set is usually won by the first to six games, with a margin of at least two. When a set reaches six games all, a tie-break is typically played to decide it. Matches are best of three sets, while men's matches at the four Grand Slam events have historically been best of five.
Equipment and Venue
The essential equipment is a strung racket and a pressurised felt-covered ball. Rackets are usually made from graphite composites and strung with synthetic or natural gut. Players wear flat-soled court shoes suited to the playing surface.
A standard court measures 23.77 metres long and 8.23 metres wide for singles, widening for doubles. The net stands 0.914 metres high at the centre. Surfaces vary: hard courts offer a consistent medium-paced bounce, clay slows the ball and produces a higher bounce, and grass is fast with a lower skid.
History
Modern tennis grew from real tennis, an indoor game played in medieval Europe. Lawn tennis, the outdoor version that became the game played today, was formalised in England in the 1870s. The first Wimbledon championship was held in 1877, establishing the sport's oldest tournament.
Through the twentieth century tennis spread globally, professionalised in the late 1960s with the start of the Open Era, and produced figures of lasting influence. Among the most celebrated is Roger Federer, whose career helped define the modern men's game.
Key Competitions
The four Grand Slam tournaments are the pinnacle of the sport: the Australian Open, the French Open at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Each is played on a different surface and carries enormous prestige.
Beyond the Slams, the professional tours run year-round circuits, culminating in season-ending finals for the leading players. National team competitions, including the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup, add a representative dimension to a sport that is otherwise largely individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points are needed to win a game of tennis?
A player must win at least four points, and lead by two, to take a game. The points are counted as 15, 30, 40 and then game.
What does love mean in tennis?
Love means a score of zero. It is used at the start of every game and whenever a player has yet to win a point in that game.
What is the difference between singles and doubles?
Singles is played one against one on a narrower court, while doubles is two players per side using the wider tramlines that extend the court's width.
Why are there different court surfaces?
Hard, clay and grass each change the speed and bounce of the ball. Clay is slowest with a high bounce, grass is fastest with a low skid, and hard courts sit between the two.
What is a tie-break?
A tie-break is a deciding game played when a set reaches six games all. Players score in single numbers, and the first to seven points, by a margin of two, wins the set.
Who governs the sport of tennis?
The International Tennis Federation oversees the rules and major events worldwide, working alongside the professional tours that organise the main competitive circuits.
Can the ball bounce more than once?
No. A player must return the ball before it bounces a second time on their side of the net, or they lose the point.