The Toss: Who Serves First
Also known as: coin toss in tennis, racquet spin, spin the racquet, spin a racket, winning the toss, choice of ends and service, toss for serve
A toss before the warm-up decides who serves first, and many players spin a racquet instead of flipping a coin. The winner of the toss has three options: choose to serve or receive, choose which end to start on, or make the opponent choose first. The other side then takes the choice that is left.
Rule 9 of the ITF Rules covers the toss. It happens before the warm-up starts, not after it. In club play, players often spin a racquet and call 'up' or 'down' on the logo instead of using a coin.
The winner picks one of three options. They can choose to serve or receive in the first game. The opponent then picks the end. They can choose the end of the court instead. The opponent then decides who serves. Or they can hand the first choice to the opponent and take whatever is left.
Many winners choose to serve, but receiving first is a fair tactic too. Some players like to settle in on return. Others take the end with the sun or wind in their favour. If the warm-up is halted and players leave the court, the toss result stands, but both sides may make new choices.
Tips by skill level
If you win the toss and feel nervous, choose to receive. You get a game to settle before you serve.
On a windy or sunny day, think about the end as well as the serve. Taking the better end can matter more than serving first.
Example
Leo wins the racquet spin and chooses to receive. His opponent then picks the end with the sun behind him, so Leo starts the match returning into the glare.
Why it matters
The toss sets who serves first and which end you start on. Knowing all three options lets you use the conditions instead of just grabbing the serve.
Common mistakes
- Doing the toss after the warm-up instead of before it
- Thinking the toss winner must serve
- Choosing to serve and then also trying to pick the end
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you win the toss in tennis?
You choose one of three options: serve or receive, the end of the court, or make your opponent choose first. Your opponent takes the remaining choice.
Is it better to serve or receive first in tennis?
Either can work. Serving first puts you ahead on serve in the set, while receiving first gives you time to settle in. Many players decide based on nerves, warm-up and the conditions.
Sources
Related terms
- Serving Order and SidesPlayers take turns serving whole games. Every game starts from the right (deuce) side, and the server switches sides after each point. In doubles, partners serve every fourth game, and each team keeps its receiving sides for the whole set. A toss or racquet spin before the warm-up decides who serves first.
- Changeovers and Changing EndsYou switch sides after the first game of each set and then after every odd game: the third, fifth, seventh and so on. Each changeover allows up to 90 seconds of rest, except after the first game of a set, when you swap ends without sitting. The break at the end of a set lasts up to 120 seconds.
- Playing in the WindIn the wind, play simpler tennis with bigger margins. Aim away from the lines, use more topspin for control and take extra small steps before contact, because the ball moves late. If a gust blows your toss away, catch it and toss again; that is not a fault. With the wind behind you, add spin and skip the drop shot; into the wind, hit deeper and use the drop shot.
- Playing in Sun and HeatWhen serving into the sun, shift a little along the baseline or change your stance so the toss is out of the glare, and wear a cap or visor. If the sun catches your toss, catch the ball and toss again; that is not a fault. In the heat, drink at every changeover rather than waiting for thirst, cool down with shade and ice towels, and stop if you feel dizzy, sick or unusually tired.
- Tennis ScoringPoints in a tennis game go love (zero), 15, 30, 40, then game, and the server's score is called first. At 40-40, called deuce, a player must win two points in a row to take the game. The first to six games wins the set by two, usually with a tiebreak at 6-6, and matches are best of three or five sets.
Related guides & benchmarks
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