Excerpts from the USTA Official Rules of Tennis and the USTA Code of Tennis
CASE: Is it allowable in doubles for the Server’s partner or the Receiver’s partner to stand in a position that obstructs the view of the Receiver?
DECISION: Yes. The Server’s partner or the Receiver’s partner may take any position on their side of the net, in or out of the Court, that they wish.
PLAYING THE TIE-BREAK GAME. WHO SERVES, WHEN...
• The team whose turn it is to serve shall be the Server for the first point of the tie-break game.
• The team receiving first in the tie-break serves the first game of the following set.
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Switching positions. Doubles teams may switch player positions as well as the serving and receiving order at any new set or match tie-break. Serving the first point of the tie-break. The team whose turn it is to serve serves the first point of the tie-break game.
Serving the set following a tie-break. The team receiving first in the tie-break serves the first game of the following set. Announcing the score. The Server shall announce the game score before the first point of the game and the point score before each subsequent point of the game. What's the call? The opponent is entitled to a prompt audible or visible call on all balls played no matter how obvious the situation. |
Calls when looking across a line. When you are looking across a line (e.g., standing behind the baseline) don’t call a ball out unless you can clearly see part of the court between where the ball hit and the line.
Player calls their own shots out. With the exception of the first serve, a player should call against themself any ball the player clearly sees out regardless of whether requested to do so by the opponent. The prime objective in making calls is accuracy. All players should cooperate to attain this objective.
Audible or visible calls. No matter how obvious it is to a player that an opponents ball is out, the opponent is entitled to a prompt audible or visible out call.
