The “Service Fault” section of the ITF Rules of Tennis outlines four conditions which result in a service fault. Because neither the ITF nor the USTA Friend at Court plainly states what a service fault actually is, I have taken the liberty to form my own definition. A service fault is a failed attempt to deliver an allowable serve.
Additionally, I have coined more descriptive terms for the four ways to commit a service fault presented in the “Service Fault” section. Today we will examine the first of these infractions, “Boring Rules Violations.”
The service is a fault if:
a. The server breaks Rules 16, 17, or 18;
USTA Friend at Court, ITF Rules of Tennis, Section 19.a
I have been continuously writing about rules 16, 17, and 18 starting with “Serving up the Tennis Service” on April 1. The service fault is the penalty for breaking those rules. With a nod to Jeff Foxworthy, I now present a succinct summary of what has been discussed up to this point in time.
- If the server fails to stand at rest before starting the service motion, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server stands in an illegal location to deliver the service, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server doesn’t release the toss by hand (unless unable to do so), he just committed a service fault…
- If the server hits the ball into the net, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server delivers a serve that fails to hit the correct service court on the first bounce, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server changes position by running or walking during the service motion, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server steps on or across the baseline, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server steps on or across the centre line, he just committed a service fault…
- If the server steps on or across the imaginary extension of the sideline, he just committed a service fault…
There are three additional ways to commit a service fault that are unique to the “Service Fault” section of ITF Rules of Tennis. I will start digging into those infractions tomorrow.
- United States Tennis Association (2020) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
