I confidently assert that I can dispense with Rule 10, Change of Ends, in a single post. Part of the reason for that is that the most complicated end change scenarios have already been covered in the tie-break game sections. This is a pretty simple rule.
The players shall change ends at the end of the first, third and every subsequent odd game of each set.
USTA Friend at Court, ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 10
Players change end after the completion of every odd game in the set. Awesome! Shortest post ever. Of course, someone at the ITF decided that the rule was a little too short and added a second sentence.
The players shall also change ends at the end of each set unless the total number of games in that set is even, in which case the players change ends at the end of the first game of the next set.
USTA Friend at Court, ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 10
I have no idea why the mansplaining second sentence is necessary, but my engineer brain is pretty sure that there is no mathematical justification for the second sentence to exist. It’s as if the ITF rules of tennis were written by committee. As it turns out, this is exactly the case.
Also in section 10 is the fact that in a tie-break game players change ends every six points. Section 10 also contains a USTA comment that in the Coman tiebreak (sic) procedure that players change ends after the first point and every four points thereafter. I already covered this in “Closing out the Tie-Breaker” so forgive me for glossing over that topic here.
As with any rule, my engineer brain gravitates to the “why” question. I could not find a historical reference. To be fair, I didn’t look all that hard as I think that I already intuitively know the answer.
The reason why the changeover occurs on the odd games is because it preserves the traditional “win by two” nature of the sport. If the end changes were on the even games and there was an advantage to playing on one particular side, the player who played first on the advantageous side would have two more games played than his/her opponent at the first opportunity to win the set. Changing every odd game mitigates that situation.
In recreational indoor tennis it is not uncommon for both sides to agree to change every four games as usually there isn’t an advantage to playing from one end or the other. Indoor court time is expensive and usually limited by the next players who reserved the court.
One rule, one day. Looking ahead to tomorrow… we’re talking streak, baby.
- United States Tennis Association (2020) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
If a player forgets to change ends at 6-6 in a tie break what happens?
All points played in good faith stand. The players should swap ends as soon as they realize the error.
The seconds sentence is necessary because it covers the contingency of whether to change ebds after a set. You only change ends between sets if the previous set ends on an odd game.
I am so glad you found something to occupy your time during your self imposed quarantine. I especially enjoyed the mathematical nature of this post. I agree that the second sentence is unnecessary. Maybe a clarification that said “This rule also applies at the end of each set.” would have been sufficient.