When is a point replayed in tennis?
A · Advanced · How is a point won or lost? · 3 of 7Checked 13 October 2026
A let replays the whole point, starting with a first serve. It is called when a rally is disturbed from outside, when a ball breaks during play, when officials cannot decide a call and when an "out" call is corrected to "good" but put a player off. A service let replays only that serve.
How it works
- Outside interference or an unintentional hindrance: replay.
- A ball that breaks during play: replay. A ball that has only gone soft: the point stands.
- No line umpire could call it and the chair umpire could not decide: replay.
- An "out" call corrected to "good": replayed if the call hindered either player; otherwise the hitter wins the point.
- Except for a let on a second serve, the whole point is replayed, so the server gets a first serve again.
Tricky cases
The ball burst during the rally. What happens?
The point is replayed.
The line umpire called "out", then corrected it. Whose point?
It depends on whether the call put a player off. If it did, replay. If not, the player who hit the ball wins the point.
Why the rule exists
Some points are spoiled by things neither player caused. Replaying is fairer than awarding the point.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITF rules | As above | L3, 23, 26; App VII |
From the rule book
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rules 3, 22, 23 and 26 and Appendix VII (Case 7). Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITF Rules of Tennis (PDF).