The official rules of tennis are set by the International Tennis Foundation (ITF), the governing body of tennis worldwide. The Rules of Tennis Committee, part of the International Tennis Foundation, keeps track of the rules and notes any problems in their practical application. If necessary, the Rules of Tennis Committee suggests rule changes to the board of the International Tennis Foundation, which are then approved or rejected by the ITF's annual general meeting.

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1. Court The official rules of tennis include very specific instructions about the size and layout of a tennis court and net. An official tennis court is 78 feet long by 27 feet wide (for singles) or 36 feet wide (for doubles) with a three-foot high net dividing the center.
2. Ball A tennis ball must have a white or yellow fabric cover and any visible seams cannot have stitches. The official rules of tennis allow different amounts of pressure within the tennis ball for games at sea level versus high altitude play. The rules of the ball changes and number of balls per game are set by each individual tennis tournament.
3. Racket The strings on a tennis racket must be crisscrossed in a uniform pattern, equal on both faces and not more dense along the racket's edge than in the middle. The frame of the racket can be no larger than 29 inches long including the handle (15.5 inches for the hitting surface) by 12.5 inches wide (11.5 for the hitting surface). A tennis player may only use one racket at any time.
4. Play Once the ball has gone over the net, the other player must hit the ball back to the opponent's side before it bounces twice. (The ball must bounce once after a serve.) If not, the player who last hit the ball scores a point. Play must be continuous and rapid with a maximum of twenty seconds between serves (90 seconds when the players change ends).
5. Score A score of zero in tennis is called "Love." The first two points scored are worth fifteen each, while the third is worth ten and the fourth point wins the game. The exception is when both players are tied at 30 points, called "Deuce." If this happens, one player must score another point, called the "Advantage" and a second additional point to win the game.
6. Server & Receiver The server is the player who first puts the ball into play, while the receiver tries to return the serve. The server must stand at the center of the court behind the baseline, release the tennis ball and hit it over the net before it hits the ground. Players choose between themselves who serves first; the player who receives first gets to choose their end of the court. According to the official rules of tennis, players must alternate serving and receiving after each game.
7. Ball in Play A tennis ball is considered in play until it goes out of bounds, hits a player, bounces twice, hits a permanent fixture or gets stuck in the net. A ball that touches the boundary line of the court is considered in bounds.
8. Coaching While tennis players can have coaches, the official rules of tennis do not allow coaches to communicate with players during matches, except during set breaks.