Women’s tennis in India follows the international rules set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). These rules are consistent across all levels of play, including domestic and international competitions. Here are the key rules and regulations:

Court and Equipment

Court Dimensions: The court is 23.77 meters long and 8.23 meters wide for singles matches. For doubles, the width is 10.97 meters.

Net: The net height is 0.914 meters at the center and 1.07 meters at the posts.

Balls: Tennis balls must conform to ITF specifications, typically weighing between 56.0 and 59.4 grams.

Match Structure

Scoring System:

• Points: Points are scored as 15, 30, 40, and game. If both players reach 40, it’s called “deuce,” and a player must win two consecutive points to win the game.
• Games: A player needs to win six games to win a set, with a margin of at least two games.
• Sets: Matches are typically best of three sets in women’s tennis.
• Tiebreak: If the set score reaches 6-6, a tiebreak game is played to decide the winner of the set. The first player to reach seven points with a margin of two points wins the tiebreak and the set.

Serving:

• The server alternates every game.
• The server must stand behind the baseline and serve diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
• Each point starts with a serve. The server gets two chances to serve correctly into the service box.

Serving Rules

Service Faults: A fault occurs if the ball does not land in the correct service box, if the server steps on the baseline before hitting the ball, or if the ball hits the net without landing in the service box.

Double Fault: If the server faults on both the first and second serves, the opponent wins the point.

In-Play

Ball in Play: The ball must land within the boundaries of the court. If it lands outside, the point is awarded to the opponent.

Let: If the ball hits the net on a serve but lands in the correct service box, a “let” is called, and the serve is retaken.

Faults and Violations

Foot Fault: A foot fault occurs when the server steps on or over the baseline before hitting the ball.

Code Violations: Violations such as unsportsmanlike conduct, abuse of equipment, or time violations can result in warnings, point penalties, or disqualification.

Conduct and Discipline

Code of Conduct: Players must exhibit sportsmanship and respect for opponents, officials, and the rules of the game.

Penalties: For misconduct, players can receive warnings, point penalties, or be disqualified from the match.

Officials

Umpires: The chair umpire oversees the match, makes decisions on points, and enforces the rules.

Line Judges: Assist the chair umpire in calling the ball in or out.

Review System: In major tournaments, players can challenge calls using a review system (Hawk-Eye) for line decisions.

Domestic Competitions

Tournaments: Various national tournaments are organized by the All India Tennis Association (AITA), including the National Tennis Championship, zonal championships, and various state-level competitions.

League Play: Leagues like the Tennis Premier League (TPL) follow international rules and feature top domestic and international players.

These rules ensure that women’s tennis in India is played fairly and consistently, promoting the sport’s development and popularity.