court![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Rectangular surface (78 ft x 27 ft for singles, 78 ft x 36 ft for doubles) designed for playing tennis; it is divided in half by a net.
center line judge ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who signals center line service faults and informs the umpire when the server commits a fault.
pole ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Vertical pole that stretches the net by means of a net band, keeping it 3.5 ft above the court.
doubles sideline ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Line that marks the sides of the playing area for doubles matches (two teams of two players).
service judge ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official who signals service line faults and informs the umpire when the server commits a fault.
center mark ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Broken line marking the middle of the baseline; players use the center mark to take position for serving or receiving.
ball boy ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Person who retrieves balls from the court after each rally in a tournament.
alley ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Band that is 4.5 ft wide on the sides of the court; the alley is used only for doubles matches.
umpire ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official responsible for applying the rules; the umpire ensures that the match runs smoothly and rules on contentious points.
receiver ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Player who returns the ball put into play by the server.
linesman ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
One of the officials who ensure that the ball remains inside the lines of play and inform the umpire when a player commits a fault.
net judge ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Official responsible for calling net serves; the net judge also regulates net height before and during a match.
center strap ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Strip of fabric connected to the ground in the center of the net; it keeps the net at regulation height (3 ft).
net band ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Strip of fabric with a cable passing through it; it is attached to poles to suspend the net.
right service court ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Zone in which the serve must bounce; it is diagonally opposite the server.
net ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Loosely stitched divider stretched across the middle of the court; players must hit the ball over it.
singles sideline ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Line that marks the side of the playing area for singles matches (two players).
service line ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Line on each side of the net and parallel to it at a distance of 21 ft; it marks the back boundary of the service courts.
baseline ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Line marking the end of the court; the server stands behind the baseline.
server ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Player who puts the ball into play; the server and receiver must stand in diagonally opposite zones.
left service court ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Zone in which the serve must bounce; it is diagonally opposite the server.
backcourt ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Zone between the service line and the baseline.
forecourt ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Zone between the net and the service line.
center service line ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Line dividing each forecourt in half.