Readiness and lets

21. Readiness to serve and receive

The server must wait until the receiver is ready. The receiver must nevertheless follow the server’s reasonable pace and be ready within a reasonable time after the server is ready.

Attempting to return the serve counts as being ready. If the receiver is shown not to have been ready, that serve cannot be called a fault.

22. A service let

A service let occurs in either of these situations:

• The serve touches the net, strap or band and is otherwise good. It is also a let if, after touching one of them, the ball touches the receiver, the receiver’s partner, or something either wears or carries before the ball bounces.
• The ball is served while the receiver is not ready.

22. Which serve is repeated

A service let cancels only that particular serve. Repeat it; any preceding fault still counts. A let on a 2nd serve therefore gives another 2nd serve, not a new 1st serve.

Appendix VI provides approved alternative procedures, including a no-let option. Those alternatives are not automatically the procedure for every competition.

23. Other lets

Whenever a let is called, replay the whole point, except for a service let on a 2nd serve.

For example, if another ball rolls onto the court during a rally and a let is called, replay the point with a 1st serve even if the server had already served a fault before that rally.