Playing in Sun and Heat
Also known as: serve in the sun, serving in the sun, serving into the sun, sun in my eyes, sun in your eyes, playing in the sun, tennis in the sun, playing in the heat, tennis in the heat, hot weather tennis, heat and hydration, hydration for tennis
When 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.
The sun is hardest on the serve and the overhead, because you look up into it. Small changes help. Move a little along the baseline or change your stance to change your angle to the sun. Some players also place the toss slightly to one side. Practice any change first, because it affects your serve.
The rules give you some help. You may catch a toss and start again with no fault. Players change ends after the first game and then after every other game, so you will not serve into the sun all match. The rules only require the server to release the ball by hand and hit it before it bounces, so an underarm serve is legal too.
Heat drains you faster than you think. The USTA advises drinking steadily, not just when thirsty, because thirst shows up only once you are already slightly dehydrated. Drink at every changeover. In long matches, a sports drink with carbohydrate and electrolytes helps. Wear light-colored, moisture-wicking clothes and a breathable hat, and use shade, ice towels or cold packs at changeovers.
Know the warning signs of heat illness: unusual tiredness, headache, nausea, cramps and dizziness. If they appear, stop, get into the shade, cool down and drink. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If a player is confused, cannot drink or collapses, call emergency services right away. Ask a doctor about your own hydration needs if you have a health condition.
Tips by skill level
Pack a cap or visor and a full water bottle for every outdoor match. Drink a little at every changeover, even if you are not thirsty.
Check which end faces the sun before the match, and rehearse your adjusted stance or toss in the warm-up so it feels normal on the first sun game.
Example
Serving into a low afternoon sun, Jordan moves a step wider along the baseline and wears a cap. When the glare still catches one toss, he lets it drop and tosses again. At each changeover he drinks and lays an ice towel on his neck.
Why it matters
Sun and heat affect every outdoor player. A few simple habits protect your serve, your energy and your safety, especially in long summer matches.
Common mistakes
- Hitting a toss you lost in the sun
- Waiting until you feel thirsty to drink
- Wearing dark, heavy clothing on hot days
- Playing on through dizziness or nausea
Frequently asked questions
How do I serve in the sun?
Shift a little along the baseline or adjust your stance so the toss is out of the glare, and wear a cap or visor. If the sun catches the toss, catch it and toss again; that is not a fault.
Is an underarm serve legal in tennis?
Yes. The ITF rules only require the server to release the ball by hand and hit it before it bounces. The serve still has to land in the correct service box.
How much should I drink when playing tennis in the heat?
The USTA suggests drinking at every changeover: about 4 to 8 ounces if you sweat lightly or moderately and 8 to 16 ounces if you sweat heavily. This uses water or a sports drink. Drink steadily rather than waiting for thirst.
What are the signs of heat illness in tennis?
Watch for unusual tiredness, headache, nausea, cramps, dizziness or fainting. Stop, cool down in the shade and drink, and call emergency services if someone is confused, cannot drink or collapses.
Sources
- Tennis.com — Breaking the Rules: Making changes to the changeover (serving into the sun; stance and position along the baseline)
- ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 — Rule 10 Change of Ends, Rule 16 The Service, Rule 19 Case 1 (catching the toss)
- USTA Sport Science Committee — Beat the heat: cooling and hydration tips for tennis players
- USTA Friend at Court 2026 — USTA Emergency Care Guidelines: Heat Illness (signs and emergency response)
Related terms
- 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.
- Serve Toss PlacementServe toss placement is where the ball is released relative to the body. It determines which serve types are physically possible to hit from that toss.
- Overhead / SmashThe overhead (or smash) is a serve-like stroke struck above the head to put away a lob, demanding quick shoulder turn, a trophy-position racquet path, and aggressive pronation through contact.
- Serve RoutineA serve routine is the consistent pre-serve sequence — bouncing the ball, breathing, positioning the feet — that helps players enter a calm, focused state before every delivery.
Related guides & benchmarks
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