How do you lose a point in tennis?
B · Beginner · How is a point won or lost? · 7 of 8A player loses the point by serving a double fault, letting the ball bounce twice, hitting it out or into the net, touching the net while the ball is in play, being hit by the ball, hitting it before it has crossed the net or deliberately hitting it twice. The other player wins the point.
How it works
A player loses the point if:
- they serve two faults in a row;
- they do not return the ball before it bounces twice;
- their shot lands outside the correct court, or hits an object outside it before bouncing;
- their shot hits a permanent fixture before it bounces;
- as receiver, they return the serve before it bounces;
- they deliberately carry or catch the ball on the racket, or deliberately touch it with the racket more than once;
- they, their racket or anything they wear or carry touches the net, posts or the opponent's court while the ball is in play;
- they hit the ball before it has passed the net;
- the ball in play touches them or anything they wear or carry, other than the racket in their hand;
- the ball touches their racket when they are not holding it;
- they deliberately and materially change the shape of the racket during the point;
- in doubles, both partners touch the ball when returning it.
Tricky cases
The ball was going out but hit me before it bounced. Whose point?
Your opponent's. A ball in play that touches a player loses that player the point, wherever they are standing.
I caught the ball behind the baseline because it was going out. Whose point?
Your opponent's. The ball is in play until it bounces out.
Can I throw my racket at the ball to get it back?
No. The ball must be hit with the racket in the hand. A player who throws the racket at the ball loses the point.
My hat fell off and touched the net during the point. Do I lose it?
Yes. Anything a player is wearing or carrying that touches the net while the ball is in play loses the point.
Why the rule exists
These define the game: one hit per side, after no more than one bounce, into the court, without touching the net or the ball with the body.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITF rules | As above | L24 |
| Wheelchair tennis | The ball may bounce twice; the chair counts as the body | Wheelchair rules a, b |
From the rule book
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 24 and its Cases. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITF Rules of Tennis (PDF).