Introduction to Single Tennis
Single tennis is a sport played by two players on a court divided by a net. It is one of the most popular sports in the world and is played on both recreational and professional levels. The objective of the game is to hit the ball over the net and into the opponent’s court in such a way that the opponent cannot return the ball. Players must use a racket to hit the ball, and the ball must always stay within the court.
Rules of Single Tennis
Single tennis is governed by a set of rules that govern the actions of the players, the court size and other aspects of the game. These rules are designed to ensure fair play and promote competitiveness. The rules of single tennis are as follows:
Scoring System
The scoring system in single tennis is based on a point system. Points are earned when a player wins a rally. The score is usually called out by the umpire and is usually expressed in terms of “love”, “15”, “30”, “40” and “game”.
Serving
The player who is serving must hit the ball from behind the baseline and into the court diagonally opposite them. The ball must land in the service box and must not land outside the court. The ball must also bounce before the opponent can hit it. The server is allowed two chances to get the ball in the service box, and if they fail to do so, they lose the point.
Receiving
The player who is receiving must stand at a distance of at least two meters from the net. They must hit the ball before it bounces a second time and they must make sure that the ball lands within the court. The player is not allowed to hit the ball until it has passed the net.
Let Serve
A let serve is when the ball touches the net but still lands in the service box. In this case, the serve is replayed and the point is not counted.
Faults
There are several faults that a player can commit during a game of single tennis. These include:
- Double Fault: A double fault occurs when the player hits the ball twice in a row without the ball bouncing.
- Foot Fault: A foot fault occurs when the player steps into the court before hitting the ball.
- Net Fault: A net fault occurs when the player hits the ball and it lands on the net before it goes into the court.
- Out of Bounds: A ball is out of bounds if it lands outside the court.
Winning the Point
A player wins the point if their opponent is unable to return the ball or if their opponent commits a fault. The player who wins the point is awarded one point and the score is updated.
Winning the Game
A player wins the game if they are the first to reach four points and have a two-point lead over their opponent. If the score reaches deuce (40-40), then the players must play until one of them has a two-point lead.
Winning the Set
A set is won when a player wins six games and has a two-game lead over their opponent. If the score reaches five games all, then the players must play until one of them has a two-game lead.
Winning the Match
A match is won when a player wins two sets out of three (or three out of five). If the score reaches one set all, then the players must play until one of them has won two sets.
Conclusion
Single tennis is a popular sport that is played by millions of people worldwide. The rules of single tennis are designed to ensure fair play and promote competitiveness. The scoring system, serving, receiving, let serve and faults are all important aspects of the sport, as is winning the point, game, set and match.