Beach tennis
Feet in the sand. Score in hand.
No notepad on the beach: point after point, Matchito keeps the games and the sets.
Score a gameOne point, one tap.
Tap the color of the team that won the point. At 40 all, one deciding point. Try it!
- Deciding point at 40 all
- Tiebreak at 6 all
- 2 sets to win
- Pick beach tennis, and name the two teams.
- After each point, tap the color of the team that won it. Games and sets follow on their own.
- The referee calls the server’s score first, the deciding point, and when to change sides.
The rules, in short.
What the International Tennis Federation’s rules say, and nothing more.
- 15, 30, 40
A game
15, 30, 40, game, with no advantage: at 40 all, one deciding point. Without an umpire, the server calls the score before each point.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 8.a - 6
A set
The first to 6 games, with a two-game lead, wins the set. At 6 all, a tiebreak to 7 points, win by two.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rules 7 and 8.b - 10
The match
A match is won by the first to take 2 sets. At one set all, a tiebreak to 10 points, win by two, replaces the third set.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rules 6 and 7 - 1
One serve only
No second serve. You serve from behind the baseline; in mixed, men serve underhand.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rules 17 and 18 - Net
Serves off the net
A serve that touches the net and goes over stays in play: it is not a let.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 22 - Sides
Changing sides
After the odd games of the set. In the tiebreak, after the first point, then every four points.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 11
Or leave your phone in your bag.
One press per point won, on your watch or the three buttons on your earbuds: ⏮ for pink, ⏭ for yellow. ⏯ undoes the last point. No sand on the screen.
The questions people ask.
How do you keep score in beach tennis?
Like tennis, 15, 30, 40, game, but with no advantage: at 40 all, a single deciding point settles the game.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 8.aHow many sets are in a match?
First to 2 sets of 6 games. At one set all, no third set: a tiebreak to 10 points.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 7Do you get two serves?
No, just one. And a serve that touches the net and goes over is good.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rules 18 and 22Can the ball touch the sand?
No: in beach tennis, the ball is played on the volley. If it touches the sand on your side, you lose the point.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 24.bWho receives the serve in doubles?
Any player on the receiving team. No fixed side like in tennis.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Rule 16Can you play a shorter format?
Yes, the ITF approves it: in a short set, the first to 4 games, with a two-game lead, wins the set, and at 4 all you play a tiebreak. The match tiebreak that replaces the final set can also be played to 7 points.
ITF, Rules of Beach Tennis 2023, Appendix VI, 1 and 3