Match play of tennis
Match play of tennis
Convention dictates that two players shake hands at the end of a match
A tennis match is intended to be continuous. Because stamina is a
relevant factor, arbitrary delays are not permitted. In most cases, service is
required to occur no more than 20 seconds after the end of the previous point.
This is increased to 90 seconds when the players change ends (after every
odd-numbered game), and a 2 minute break is permitted between sets. Other than
this, breaks are permitted only when forced by events beyond the players'
control, such as rain, damaged footwear, damaged racquet, or the need to
retrieve an errant ball. Should a player be determined to be stalling
repeatedly, the chair umpire may initially give a warning followed by
subsequent penalties of "point", "game", and default of the
match for the player who is consistently taking longer than the allowed time
limit. In the event of a rain delay, darkness or other external conditions
halting play, the match is resumed at a later time, with the same score as at
the time of the delay, and the players at the same end of the court when rain
halted play, or at the same position (north or south) if play is resumed on a
different court.
Balls wear out quickly in serious play and, therefore, in ATP and WTA
tournaments, they are changed after every nine games with the first change
occurring after only seven games, because the first set of balls is also used
for the pre-match warm-up. As a courtesy to the receiver, the server will often
signal to the receiver before the first serve of the game in which new balls
are used as a reminder that they are using new balls. However, in ITF
tournaments like Fed Cup, the balls are changed in a 9–11 style. Continuity of
the balls' condition is considered part of the game, so if a re-warm-up is
required after an extended break in play (usually due to rain), then the
re-warm-up is done using a separate set of balls, and use of the match balls is
resumed only when play resumes.
A recent rule change is to allow coaching on court on a limited
basis during a match. This has been introduced in women's tennis for WTA Tour
events in 2009 and allows the player to request her coach once per set.
