Line

The lines and net are the most obvious components of a tennis court. The lines define the area that you must hit the ball within to start and play and ultimately win a point in tennis. Any ball landing outside of the line boundaries is out of play. Any ball within the lines or touching the lines is in play.

Even a ball that barely touches the line is in play. Each line of a tennis court has its own name and function. The lines also form areas on the court which have their own names. Each line is between one and two inches wide except for the baseline which can be up to 4 inches wide.

The Baseline

First of all, both players must start each point with both feet behind the baseline, whether you’re the player serving or waiting to return your opponent’s serve. The baseline is where tennis players often find themselves in the game during a rally as this area gives the players the most time to react and to play their next shot. If the ball bounces beyond the baseline that is considered ‘out’ and the player that hit the ball loses the point.

Dimensions: Doubles 36 feet / Singles 27 feet

Singles’ side-line

The single’s side-line is the outer wide edge of the singles court, which makes the court slightly narrower than the doubles court. Be it during a rally or through a service, if the ball lands beyond this line, this also considered ‘out’ and the player that hit the ball loses the point or must play a second serve. The single’s side-line is often where the players will play shots down the line balls to force their opponent out wide to create more space in the rest of the court to potentially win the point.

Dimensions: 39 feet long

Doubles’ side-line or Tram lines

This is the second side-line you will encounter on the tennis court, making the court itself seem to have two outer columns. This line makes the court wider, giving doubles players more from to play and importantly, more margin for error.

Dimensions: 39 feet long

The Net

The net divides the two halves of the court and is the only main obstacle in a tennis players view. The net does arch slightly and is lower in the centre. This makes those down-the-line shots slightly more difficult having to transport the ball over the highest point in the net. Some tennis players choose to approach the net to play volleys or drop shots. If a player hits the net during a rally, they lose the point. Upon service, hitting the net will result in a second serve. If the player serves the ball into the service box but slightly brushes the net, it is considered a ‘let’ service and must be retaken.

Centre service line

The centre line is used to divide the two service boxes. Each point the server must play the ball into the opposite service box to begin the point. This alternates between each point throughout the match.

Dimensions: 42 feet long (21 feet on each side of the court)

Service box

When a player begins the rally by serving, in order to make a legal shot – the player must hit the ball into the service box on their opponents’ side. Any serve that lands outside that box is considered ‘out’ and will result in a second serve. If the server fails to do this once again, this will result in a double fault and the server will lose the point.

Dimensions: 27 feet wide

Baseline centre mark

This mark indicates the centre point of the baseline and is used as a marker for where the server is allowed to stand during a service. Often players stand as close to this mark as possible to gain more coverage of the opponent’s service box and offer a better angle to play a service down the middle along the centre service line.

Dimensions: 4 inches long