Serve (tennis)

A serve (or, more formally, a service) in tennis is a shot to start a point. The serve is initiated by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it (usually near the apex of its trajectory) into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net.

A legal serve

A serve is termed legal when the ball travels over the net (without touching it) and into the diagonally opposite service court. The server is given two chances per point to make a legal serve, called first serve and second serve. A serve that is not legal is termed a fault. If the first serve is a fault in any way, the server has a second attempt at serve. If the second serve is also a fault, this is called a double fault and the receiver wins the point.

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If the ball hits the net but lands in the service court, this is a let service, which is void and the serve is replayed. A ball that hits the net but lands out is a fault.

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The server is required to keep his or her feet in nearly the same position during the serve. The server's feet may be raised off the ground, but walking or running is not permitted. This prevents the opponent from being misled as to where the serve will originate. Breaching this rule or exceeding the permitted part of the court constitutes a foot fault.

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A player unsatisfied with his or her toss can let the ball fall to the ground and try again. If the server swings the racquet and misses the ball, it is called a fault. If the server does make contact with the ball (as with a body part or the racket) on this errant serve, it is a fault.

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