Tennis Singles Rules

Governing Rules

The rules of World Team Tennis and United States Tennis Association (Friend at Court) apply in all situations except where a special Oregon State University Intramurals rule applies.

Eligibility

All participants must be either students registered at Oregon State University or Faculty/Staff/Affiliate with a Recreational Sports Membership. For more information on eligibility, consult the Intramurals Handbook.

Uniforms and Equipment

  • No jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc.) will be allowed on the court at any time. Players will need to remove items immediately or leave the game. Appropriate sport athletic attire is required.
  • No shoes that leave black or scuff marks on the court will be permitted. Athletic, closed-toe shoes must also be worn. No boots or sandals.
  • No braces or supports that may cause other players harm will be permitted.
  • Teams must provide their own balls (one can per team, per match) and racquets. Racquets may be checked out from Equipment Issue at Dixon Recreation Center with OSU ID card.

Pre-Game

  • All participants will need to bring their ID card to enter the facility.
  • Teams are encouraged to show no more than 10 minutes prior to their game time.
  • Team managers need to check in with the Sport Program Associate (SPA) on duty before each game to verify their team’s roster.
  • Team managers will also take part in a meeting with the SPA prior to game time.

Game Time

  • Match time listed on the schedule is the official start time.
  • A coin toss or racquet spin will occur to determine which team is home or away (the winner of the toss or spin will have the choice).
  • Both managers will be in charge of keeping track of game scores.
  • At the conclusion of the match, both managers will verify the scores and the winning team will provide the results to the SPA.

Default Rules

  • If a player is unable to compete or a team does not have enough eligible players, the set will be defaulted 6-0 (example: Team A has only 2 males and 1 female show up to a match. Team A must forfeit their Women’s Doubles set, giving the opposing team an automatic 6-0 set win).
  • If a player has to retire and cannot be substituted for, the score will be recorded with the games played standing, with the opposing team receiving six games.

Set Scoring

  • The match will consist of best 2 of 3 pro-sets.
  • Pro-sets will be played first to 8 games, no-ad scoring. At deuce, the receiving team will choose the side to receive serve.
  • At 7-7, a seven-point tiebreak will be played (see Tiebreak rules).
  • All players are allowed a 5-minute warm-up before sets.

Explanation of Tiebreakers

Seven-Point Tiebreaker

  • A seven-point tiebreaker will be played at seven games all in any pro-set.
  • The person who is next to serve begins the tiebreaker.
  • Each player serves two points in succession starting from the deuce court.
  • Players will change sides after four points total.
  • Ad-scoring rules apply (must win by 2).

Service Order

  • A coin toss or racquet spin will occur to determine which team serves first for the first pro-set.
  • The team that doesn’t serve first in the pro-set will serve first in the second pro-set.
  • If the match goes to a third pro-set, a coin toss or racquet spin will determine who serves first.

Changing Ends

  • We will not be changing ends.

Service Lets

  • Let serves will not be played.

Conduct

The Intramurals program promotes sportsmanship at all contests and activities. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes actions which are unbecoming to an ethical, fair, and honorable individual. It consists of acts of deceit, disrespect, or vulgarity and includes taunting.

Ejections

Any player ejected from a game will be immediately suspended from participating in all Intramurals activities. The ejected player must then make an appointment with the Coordinator of Intramurals and Sport Coordinator to determine the length of suspension and any other sanctions. The following actions can result in ejections from Intramurals Team Tennis:

  • Improper language
  • Unsporting conduct
  • Slamming racquet against any surface, object, or person
  • Hitting balls outside of the court or at any object or person

Contact: Sport Programs Office, (541) 737-4083, 111 Dixon Recreation Center

Revised: 11/1/2024