Tennis Doubles Rules
Doubles follows the normal rules of tennis with three differences. The court is wider: the alleys between the inner and outer sidelines are in. The serve rotates through all four players: at the start of each set the serving team picks its first server, the other team picks theirs, and partners then alternate service games. And each team picks who receives on which side, keeping it for the whole set. After the return of serve, either partner may hit the ball, but only one of them per shot.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026.
The doubles court: are the alleys in?
Yes. In doubles the outer sidelines mark the court, so a ball landing in the alley (tramlines) during a rally is good. The serve is the exception: it must still land in the normal service box, which is the same size as in singles.
In doubles the server may also stand behind the baseline between the singles and doubles sidelines, which is not allowed in singles (ITF Rule 18, Case 1).
Serving order in doubles
Under ITF Rule 14, the team serving the first game of each set decides which partner serves that game. Before the second game, the other team decides which of them serves. The partner of the first server serves the third game, and the partner of the second server serves the fourth. That rotation continues to the end of the set, and the teams may choose again at the start of the next set.
| Game | Server |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ana (Team A's choice) |
| 2 | Cara (Team B's choice) |
| 3 | Ben |
| 4 | Dev |
| 5 | Ana |
| 6 | Cara |
Receiving in doubles
Under Rule 15, the team receiving in the first game of a set decides which partner receives the first point, and the other team does the same before the second game. The partners then alternate points, so one player receives every point in the right (deuce) court and the other every point in the left (ad) court, for the whole set.
Once the serve has been returned, either partner may play the ball. If both partners hit it, the team loses the point (Rule 24). One player may not play alone against two.
Where partners can stand
The server's partner and the receiver's partner may stand anywhere on their own side, inside or outside the court, as long as they don't deliberately hinder the opponents. A serve that hits the server's partner is a fault. A serve that hits the receiver's partner before it bounces wins the point for the server, unless it is a let.
The doubles tiebreak
In a tiebreak the rotation simply continues from the set. The player due to serve takes one point, then the opponent due to serve next takes two, then the first server's partner takes two, then the remaining opponent takes two, and so on. Teams change ends after every six points. Receivers keep their usual sides.
Before a match tiebreak that replaces the third set, each team may change its serving and receiving order, as at the start of any set. See the tiebreak rules guide for a full point-by-point table.
No-Ad and deciding points in doubles
Many doubles matches use No-Ad scoring: at deuce, one deciding point is played. The receiving team chooses which side receives it, and its players cannot swap positions for that point. In mixed doubles, the player of the same gender as the server receives the deciding point (ITF Appendix VI).
Mixed doubles rules
Mixed doubles uses the same rules as any doubles match: there is no rule that a man must serve to a woman, or that partners must alternate shots. The one mixed-specific rule is the No-Ad deciding point above. Event rules (for example league line-ups) may add their own requirements.
When the order goes wrong
- Wrong partner serving: the right partner serves as soon as it's noticed; if a game has already finished, the new order stays. In doubles, a fault served before the error was found still counts (Rule 27).
- Wrong receiving order: it stays as it is until the end of that game; the team goes back to its original sides the next time it receives (Rule 27e).
- Points already played always stand.
Lost track mid-set? The who serves next calculator sorts out the serving order, including tiebreaks.
Score doubles live for both families
In the Racketlovers app, pick Doubles when you set up a tennis match and add both partners on each side. The players enter the games at each changeover, the other team confirms them, and everyone you share the link with follows the match live in the free app. Tournament doubles events (men's, women's and mixed, with age categories) are supported too.
Frequently asked questions
Who serves first in doubles?
The team that wins the toss can choose to serve. That team then decides which partner serves the first game. The other team picks its own first server before the second game.
Do doubles partners have to alternate serves?
Yes, by game. Partners serve every other game for their team, so all four players serve in turn. The order can change only at the start of a new set.
Can you switch receiving sides in doubles?
Only at the start of a set. Once a set begins, each partner receives from the same side for every game of that set.
Is the alley in on the serve in doubles?
No. The serve must land in the normal service box. The alleys are in only after the serve, during the rally.
Who receives the deciding point in mixed doubles?
Under No-Ad scoring, the player of the same gender as the server receives the deciding point, and the receiving team cannot swap positions.
How does serving work in a doubles tiebreak?
The player due to serve takes one point, then the opponents' next server takes two, then the first server's partner takes two, and so on in the set's rotation. Teams change ends every six points.