tennis court size

Tennis Court Size

The size of a tennis court is not something most of us know about, unless of course you play the game. Read on to find out its dimensions.

They say that the grass is always greener on the other side. This is perfectly applicable for the tennis players, more so when an opponent is winning and giving the other player a tough time! Jokes apart though, all those aspiring to be tennis players on the footsteps of Andre Agassi or Rafael Nadal, need to know the measurements of tennis court before even holding a racket. Basic Measurements The court size varies slightly depending on the tournament, the type and surface. The basic dimensions of a tennis court are 78 feet in length and 27 feet in width. On the sides it is 39 feet. The court must be divided across the center by a net suspended by a cord or a metal cable which has to pass over or be attached to 2 net posts at a height of 3 and a half feet. The maximum diameter of the cord or metal should be 1/3 rd inch. In addition to this, the maximum width of the strap should be 2 inches. Then, the band shall be 2 and 2 and a half inches deep on each side. The service lines are 21 feet from the net. In addition to that there is a clear space around the court is needed so that the players can reach overrun balls. This is around 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. The net measures 3 feet 6 inches at the posts and 3 feet high in the center. These were the basic dimensions of a tennis court. Depending on whether it is a singles or doubles court, the size may vary a bit.
Doubles Matches The center of the net post has to be 3 feet, outside the doubles court on both the sides. Apart from this, the other dimensions remain the same. The width of the court is 36 feet for doubles matches. Singles Matches In case of singles matches, the centers of the net have to be 3 feet outside the singles court on every side. This is for singles net for a singles match. If the net used is a doubles one, then the net has to be supported by 2 singles sticks at a height of 3 and a half feet. The mid points of these sticks need to be 3 feet outside the singles court on every side. Other specifications include-
  • The net posts cannot be more than 6 inches square or 6 inches in diameter.
  • The single sticks cannot be more than 3 inches square or 3 inches in diameter.
  • The singles sticks and net posts can be maximum 1 inch above the top of the net cord.
Service Lines and Baseline The lines at the end of the court are termed as baselines and those which are drawn between the singles sidelines (lines at the sides of the court) are called service lines. These are as mentioned are 21 feet on both sides of the net and are parallel to the net. On both the sides of the net, the space between the service line and the net has to be divided in 2, equally. These are the service courts, divided by the service line. This line will be drawn parallel with singles sidelines and mid or halfway between them. The center mark on the central service line has to be 2 inches wide. In addition to that, the baselines have to be divided in half by a mark at the center which is around 4 inches in length. They need to be drawn in the inner part of the court and should be parallel to the singles sidelines. That is all! Ciao!

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