Serving Team

In doubles, you and a partner play against a team of two players on the other side of the net, using the full court between the baselines and the doubles sidelines. The server is the one who puts the ball into play for the first point.

Prior to playing a match, competitors must decide which team will serve first and which sides of the court each competitor or team will initiate game play. A coin toss or racquet spin is the typical action performed to determine the privilege of picking first.

The winner(s) of the coin toss or racquet spin determines either the serving options or which end of the court to initiate game play. The competitor(s) who lost the toss or spin determines the second option.

The team that is due to serve in the 1st game of each set decides which player will serve for that game. The same player must serve the entire game. In the second game of each set the opponents get to decide which player will serve first. The partner of the player who served in the 1st game then serves in the 3rd game. The partner of the player who served in the 2nd game then serves in the 4th game and this rotation continues until the end of the set. You must keep the same order of serving throughout the match.

If you are on the team that serves first, either you or your partner may begin the match by serving the first ball. Either person on the opposing team may receive the first ball on the right (deuce) court. The partner will receive all serves to the left (the ad) court.