which the player is wearing or carrying touches the net, net posts/singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, or the opponent’s court at any time while the ball is in play; or 

h. The player hits the ball before it has passed the net; or 

 i. The ball in play touches the player or anything that the player is wearing or carrying, except the racket; or 

j. The ball in play touches the racket when the player is not holding it; or 

k. The player deliberately and materially changes the shape of the racket when the ball is in play; or 

l. In doubles, both players touch the ball when returning it. 

C ase 1: After the server has served a first service, the racket falls out of the server’s hand and touches the net before the ball has bounced. Is this a service fault, or does the server lose the point? 

Decision: The server loses the point because the racket touches the net while the ball is in play. 

Case 2: After the server has served a first service, the racket falls out of the server’s hand and touches the net after the ball has bounced outside the correct service court. Is this a service fault, or does the server lose the point? 

Decision: This is a service fault because when the racket touched the net the ball was no longer in play. 

Case 3: In a doubles match, the receiver’s partner touches the net before the ball that has been served touches the ground outside the correct service court. What is the correct decision? 

Decision: The receiving team loses the point because the receiver’s partner touched the net while the ball was in play. 

Case 4: Does a player lose the point if an imaginary line in the extension of the net is crossed before or after hitting the ball? 

Decision: The player does not lose the point in either case provided the player does not touch the opponent’s court. 

Cas e 5: Is a player allowed to jump over the net into the opponent’s court while the ball is in play? 

Decision: No. The player loses the point. 

