Serving Order and Sides
Also known as: service order, serving order, order of service, serve from the right side, serving out of turn, serving from the wrong side, wrong side serve, doubles serving order, doubles receiving order, who serves first in tennis
Players 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.
Under ITF Rule 9, a toss before the warm-up decides who serves first. The winner may choose to serve or receive, and the opponent then picks the end. The winner may instead pick the end, and the opponent then chooses to serve or receive. A third option is to make the opponent choose first. Under Rule 14, the receiver becomes the server for the next game. Rule 16 has the server stand behind the baseline, between the center mark and the sideline. Rule 17 starts every game from the right half, alternates halves, and requires the serve to land in the diagonally opposite box. A second serve comes from the same half as the first (Rule 20).
In doubles, the team serving first in each set picks which partner serves that game. The opponents pick their server for game two. Partners then alternate, so games one and three go to one pair of partners and games two and four to the other. Under Rule 15, the receiving team picks who takes the first point. The partners then alternate points and keep those sides for the rest of the set. Both net partners may stand anywhere on their own side.
Mistakes are fixed under Rule 27, and points already played stand. Serving from the wrong half is corrected as soon as it is noticed, and a fault already served stands. If the wrong player serves, the right player takes over at once. If the game finished before anyone noticed, the new order stays.
Tips by skill level
Even point totals (0-0, 15-15, 30-0) mean you serve from the right. Odd totals (15-0, 30-15, 40-30) mean you serve from the left.
In doubles, set your serving order with the elements in mind. The partner who handles sun or wind better at a given end can take the games at that end.
Example
At 30-15, the server realises he served the last point from the wrong side. The point stands. He moves to the left half, since the score now calls for an odd-point serve from the ad side.
Why it matters
Serving from the wrong side or out of turn causes most scoring arguments in casual tennis. Knowing the order and the correction rules settles them quickly.
Common mistakes
- Starting a new game from the left side because the last game ended there
- Changing doubles receiving sides in the middle of a set
- Replaying points after discovering a serving-order mistake
- Standing in the doubles alley to serve in singles
Frequently asked questions
Which side do I serve from first in tennis?
The right side, also called the deuce side. Under ITF Rule 17, every game starts from behind the right half of the court, and you switch sides after each point.
Who serves first in a tennis match?
A coin toss or racquet spin before the warm-up decides it. Under ITF Rule 9, the winner chooses to serve or receive, or picks an end, or makes the opponent choose first.
What happens if you serve from the wrong side by mistake in tennis?
The points already played stand. Under ITF Rule 27, the server moves to the correct side as soon as the mistake is noticed. A fault served before the mistake was noticed still counts.
Can doubles partners change which side they return from?
Not during a set. Under ITF Rule 15, the receiving order chosen at the start of a set stays until the set ends. Teams may change it at the start of a new set or a match tiebreak.
Sources
- ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 — Rules 9 (choice of ends and service), 14 (order of service), 15 (order of receiving in doubles), 16, 17, 20 and 27 (correcting errors); Rule 26 Case 5
- USTA Friend at Court 2026 — USTA Comments 14.1 and 15.2 (changing serving and receiving order at a new set or match tiebreak)
Related terms
- 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.
- Foot FaultA foot fault occurs when a server's foot touches the baseline or crosses into the court before contacting the ball on the serve. It results in a fault.
- Tiebreak (7-Point)A standard tiebreak decides a set at 6-6, and the first player to seven points wins, as long as they lead by two. The player due to serve takes the first point, then each side serves two points in a row. Players change ends after every six points, and the winner takes the set 7-6.
- Doubles Serving TacticsIn doubles, serve mostly down the T or into the body to cut down the returner's angles and send returns through the middle, where your partner can poach. Landing a high share of first serves usually matters more than raw pace. As a result, add spin and take a little speed off if you need to. Stand wider along the baseline than in singles, and agree on the target with your partner before each point.
- Deuce and AdvantageDeuce is a tied score of 40-40 in a game. From there, a player must win two points in a row: the first for advantage, the second for the game.
Related guides & benchmarks
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