Principle 2 of The Code opens with one of the most elegant statements in all of tennis ethics: “Points played in good faith are counted.” For context, here is the complete text of the first paragraph of that principle:
Points played in good faith are counted. All points played in good faith stand. For example, if after losing a point, a player discovers that the net was four inches too high, the point stands. If a point is played from the wrong court, there is no replay. If during a point, a player realizes that a mistake was made at the beginning (for example, service from the wrong court), the player must continue playing the point. Corrective action may be taken only after a point has been completed.
USTA Friend at Court 2025 , The Code, Principle 2
It is deceptively simple, yet it forms the cornerstone of integrity in unofficiated play. In its most literal sense, this principle means that once a point has been played in good faith, it remains, regardless of any discoveries made afterward. While the full text goes on to list some situations where there may be some room for debate, nothing can change the outcome once the point has been decided.
This principle appeals to me because it is conceptually like a design guideline for the game’s human element. In systems engineering, a clearly defined principle provides a structure for making informed judgments when the unexpected occurs. It establishes a consistent framework for decision-making across various scenarios. In the same way, this rule provides players with a behavioral blueprint. It says, in essence, “If the participants acted in good faith, the system’s integrity remains intact.” Tennis, like engineered systems, thrives when guided by simple standards that scale to a wide range of circumstances.
There’s something deeply civilized about that. It reflects an understanding that fairness in tennis doesn’t always mean perfection in procedure. The rule acknowledges that the game is messy and that humans occasionally make mistakes. The important thing is not to replay history, but to uphold the mutual confidence that both players were acting in good faith.
This concept also forces players to live with their own lapses. There is no retroactive undo button when realizing that service came from the wrong side or that the score was miscalled. The point stands. Corrective action only comes afterward, and that never includes discarding a point that has already been completed. It’s a reminder that tennis is a game of cooperation, not excuses.
There is also a deeper psychological layer involved. “Points played in good faith” encourages players to stay focused on the present rather than the past. It demands composure and acceptance, including the ability to move forward even when a minor irregularity marred the previous point. In that sense, The Code doubles as both a rulebook and a life manual.
When players attempt to “unring the bell” by arguing that a completed point should be replayed due to a technicality, the match can quickly unravel. Momentum stalls, tension rises, and the good faith of the game erodes with every “Do-over” debate. The Code forecloses all that. The point stands because it was played honestly.
Unlike Principle 1, which was dramatically shortened between the 2001 and 2025 editions of The Code, Principle 2 is largely unchanged. That continuity suggests that this particular standard had already been distilled to its purest, most essential form. There was no excess language to trim, no ambiguity to clarify. The principle was, and remains, complete. In a sport where so many behaviors and expectations are open to interpretation, this one stands as a timeless anchor.
Ultimately, “Points played in good faith stand” is not just about adjudicating mistakes but also about trusting the process of play. The spirit of the rule assumes that both players are trying to do the right thing. When they are, even small imperfections can be forgiven. The moment the ball is struck in mutual good faith, the outcome becomes an indelible part of the record.
- Friend at Court: The Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations, USTA, 2025
- Friend at Court: The USTA Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations, USTA, 2001. (Hardcopy.)
