• Tennis is fun when you know the rules.tennis image by laurent gehant from Fotolia.com
  
  Tennis can be loads of fun, even when you don't know the rules. But once you know the rules, especially the scoring system, tennis takes on a whole new life. The rules of tennis make strategy just as much part of the game as skill. So don't settle for just hitting the ball over the net. Learn the rules of the game to enjoy tennis at a whole new level.
  
  

Serving

• Every point starts with a serve. The server has two chances to hit a serve that lands in the opponent's service court. If the first attempt succeeds, the point continues to be played. If the first attempt fails, a second attempt is allowed. If the second attempt fails, the sever's opponent wins the point.
  
  Another rule governing serves is the foot fault, which dictates that the server cannot in any way cross or touch the end line with their foot before the ball is served.
  
  

Scoring - Points

• The tennis scoring system consists of points, games and sets.
  
  A point is the smallest scoring unit. A point always starts with a serve and ends when one of three things happen: 1) a player hits a nonreturnable shot (winner), 2) a player hits the ball into the net, or 3) a player hits the ball out of bounds.
  
  

Scoring - Games

• A game consists of multiple points. One way to win a game is to be the first player to score 4 points. These points show up on the scoreboard as "15" for the first point, "30" for the second point, and "40" for the third point. The fourth point is then the "Game Point" which wins the game.
  
  If the two players tie at three points, or at "Deuce", then a player must win two consecutive points to win the game. For example, if the score is "Deuce" and Player 1 wins the next point, he or she must win the following point to win the game or the score returns to "Deuce" again.
  
  

Scoring - Sets

• A set consists of multiple games. A set is won by the first player to win six games, unless the two players tie at five games first. In the case of a 5-5 tie, a player must win two consecutive games to win the set 7-5. If the players tie at 6-6, then a tiebreaker takes place to decide the winner of the set.
  
  A tiebreaker consists of multiple points. The first player to win seven points wins the tiebreaker, but the margin of victory must be at least two points. So if a tiebreaker reaches a 6-6 tie, then the tiebreaker continues until a player can win by two points.
  
  

Scoring - Matches

• A match consists of multiple sets. Most women's tennis matches are best-of-three set matches while most men's matches are best-of-five.
  
  In a best-of-three match, the first player to win two sets wins the match. In a best-of-five match, the first player to win three sets wins the match.
  
  In some tournaments, like Wimbledon, tiebreakers are not allowed in the final set, so the winner must win the final set by a two-game margin.