
The Singles Game
7. The Service
The service shall be delivered in the following manner. Immediately before
commencing to serve, the Server shall stand with both feet at rest behind
(i.e. further from the net than) the base-line, and within the imaginary
continuations of the center-mark and side-line. The Server shall then
project the ball by hand into the air in any direction and before it hits
the ground strike it with his racket, and the delivery shall be deemed to
have been completed at the moment of the impact of the racket and the
ball. A player with the use of only one arm may utilize his racket for the
projection.
USTA Comment: There is no restriction regarding the kind of
service which may be used; that is, the player may use an underhand or
overhand service at his discretion.
Case 1. May the Server in a singles game take his stand behind
the portion of the base-line between the side-lines of the Singles Court
and the Doubles Court?
Decision: No.
USTA Comment: In singles, the server may stand anywhere in back
of the baseline between the imaginary extensions of the center mark and
the singles sideline.
Case 2. If a player, when serving, throws up two or more balls
instead of one, does he lose that service?
Decision: No. A let should be called, but if the Umpire regards the
action as deliberate he may take action under Rule
21.
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