How to Play

SCORING
Points in tennis are called love, 15, 30, 40, deuce and advantage
. THE GAME
0, or nothing, is called 'love'. It is believed to come from the pronunciation of the French word 'l' oeuf', which sounds like 'love. The use of 'l'ouef', meaning 'egg', to denote nothing, is derived from the shape of an egg. The first point won by a player is called 15, the second point, 30, the third point, 40. If a player then wins a fourth point before his opponent has won three points, then that player wins the game. However, if both players have won three points (40-all), the score is then deuce, and it is necessary to win two points in a row to win the game. The word 'deuce' comes from an Old French word 'deus', meaning 'two'. The first point won after a score of deuce is called advantage, either to the server of receiver, but if that player loses the next point then the score returnes to deuce. Here are the score of the game in which deuse occurs:
15 - love
15 - all
30 - 15
40 - 15
40 - 30
deuce
advantage receiver (or player' s name) deuse
advantage server (or player's name) game server
THE SET
The first player who wins six games, wins the set, provided he has won two more games than his opponent. If the score reaches five games to six, then the winning player must win the next game. If the score reaches six games all, then it becomes a tiebreak. Men usually play the best out of five sets and women, the best out of three sets.
THE TIEBREAK
In most matches, when a game score of six all is reached, a tiebreak is played. In a tiebreak the points are called 1, 2, 3, etc. Each side serves only once. This is so an not to give too great an advantage to the server. The player who wins the tiebreak game is the player who wins seven points with at least two more points than his opponent. He wins the set seven games to six. In a tiebreak the players must keep playing until one player is two points ahead. In doubles the players serve alternately in the same order as before.
CHANGE OF ENDS
The players change ends every time the total number of games played is uneven. This is so as not to give one player an advantage in outside conditions, such as wind or sun. This sometimes looks silly when tennis is played indoors, but those are the rules, and it also gives the players a chance to get some rest. In the tiebreak the players change ends after every six points.
TIME BETWEEN POINTS
The rulebook says play must be continuous, but it also says that you may take no longer that thirty seconds before playing the next point. On the changeover the resting time is one minute. So as soon as the last point of the game is played, you will have ninety seconds before you have to start the next point.
ON THE LINE
A ball that touches only a hair of the line is in, even if 99 per cent of the ball touches the ground outside the line.

Besides the rules of tennis there are also some important unwritten laws which come under the title of tennis etiquette. Tennis is a social game, a game involving simple politeness and consideration. Everyone will enjoy the game so much more if those standards are maintained. Here are some of the rules which are most important:
Talk quietly when standing near tennis courts that are in use.
Never walk behind a court when a point is still in play. Wait until the point is over and then cross as fast as possible.
If people are already on your court, don't disturb them until their time is up.
Always come prepared. Bring not only balls, but towels and water to drink when it is hot.
Wear sneakers for tennis. Other shoes may wear out quickly, hurt your feet, or damage the court.
When you're ready to play, put racket covers, ball cans, jackets etc., out of everyone's way.
To see who serves first, spin your racket or toss a coin. If you win the toss, the choice is yours. You may serve first, or you may choose to receive first or to pick which end of the court you want to start playing on. As a third choice you may make your opponent choose first.
When sending balls back to a neighboring court, roll them on to the back of the court. Never send them back while play is in progress.
Offer to bring new balls or organize a system to decide who brings the balls.
Retrieve balls for your partner and your opponent
Don't criticize your partner, offer encouragement. Call your own lines and let your opponent hear the call. If the ball is good say nothing and play on.
Always respect the linecalls of your opponent.
If there is a disagreement, offer a let. In other words, replay the point, even if it was a second service.

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