Editing Tennis court (section)

==Dimensions==
[[File:Tennis court imperial.svg|thumb|The dimensions of a tennis court.]]
The dimensions of a tennis court are defined and regulated by the [[International Tennis Federation]] (ITF) governing body and are written down in the annual 'Rules of Tennis' document.<ref name="ITF Rules of Tennis">{{cite web|title=ITF Rules of Tennis|url=http://itf.uberflip.com/i/428396-2015-rules-of-tennis-english/0|publisher=ITF}}</ref>  The court is {{convert|78|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} long. Its width is {{convert|27|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} for singles matches and {{convert|36|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} for doubles matches.<ref name="Rule 1 – The Court">{{cite web|url=http://itf.uberflip.com/i/428396-2015-rules-of-tennis-english/5|title=Rule 1 – The Court|publisher=[[International Tennis Federation]]|access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> The [[Service line (tennis)|service line]] is {{convert|21|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} from the net.<ref name="Rule 1 – The Court"/> Additional clear space around the court is needed in order for players to reach overrun balls for a total of {{convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide and {{convert|120|ft|m|abbr=on}} long. A net is stretched across the full width of the court, parallel with the [[Glossary of tennis terms#Baseline|baselines]], dividing it into two equal ends. The net is {{convert|3|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} high at the posts, and {{convert|3|ft|m|3|abbr=on}} high in the center.<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/C0125827/tennis.htm Rules of tennis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206102855/http://library.thinkquest.org/C0125827/tennis.htm |date=6 December 2008 }}</ref> The net posts are {{convert|3|ft|m|3|abbr=on}} outside the doubles court on each side or, for a singles net, {{convert|3|ft|m|3|abbr=on}} outside the singles court on each side.

Based on the standard rules of tennis, the size of the court is measured to the ''outside'' of the respective baselines and [[sidelines]]. The "service" lines ("T" and the "service" line) are centered. The ball must completely miss the line to be considered "out". This also means that the width of the line (except for the center service line) is irrelevant to play. The center service line is {{convert|2|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}, the other lines are between {{convert|1|and|2|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, whereas the baseline may be up to {{convert|4|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name="ITF Rules of Tennis"/>

===Smaller courts===
The ITF's Play and Stay campaign promotes playing on smaller courts with slower red, orange, and green balls for younger children. This gives children more time and control so they can serve, rally, and score from the first lesson on courts that are sized to fit their bodies. The ITF has mandated that official competition for children aged 10 years and under should be played on "Orange" courts {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|6.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide. Competition for children under 8 years is played on "Red" courts that are {{convert|11|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide. The net is always 0.8 m high in the center.<ref name=playstay>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tennisplayandstay.com/home.aspx|title=Play+Stay – Home|website=www.tennisplayandstay.com}}</ref>