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Beach Tennis: What It Is and How to Play
Beach tennis is different from other sports because the ball does not bounce. It is played through various formats depending on the type of tournament. Matches can involve one set of 6 games, typically in qualifying rounds, one set of 9 games, or best-of-three sets with the third set as a 10-point match tiebreak or a regular set. It is mainly played in doubles but also in singles on a smaller court (4.5 m).
History of Beach Tennis
Beach tennis originated in Italy in the 1970s when vacationing tennis players used paddles on beach volleyball courts. The modern version of beach tennis, as we know it today, was born in 1996 on the beaches of Romagna with the same rules as tennis (except for the no-bounce rule). In 2003, the first beach tennis events were held in Emilia Romagna and Lazio.
From 2005, the first European Championships were organized, and in 2009, the first ITF World Beach Tennis Championship was held in Rome, Italy. In 2010, beach tennis was officially recognized as a sport by the International Tennis Federation.
In 2012, the first World Team Beach Tennis Championship took place in Moscow.
Today, there is an international tournament circuit worldwide, with over $2,000,000 in total prize money and players ranked in the ITF top 20/30 who are full-time professionals.
What Is a Beach Tennis Racket Like?
A beach tennis racket has a large head for power and control, a non-slip handle for sand, lightweight materials like carbon fiber or Kevlar, and resistance to sand and water. Its lightness, maneuverability, and durability suit beach conditions.
Rules of Beach Tennis
- Court: Beach tennis is played on a sandy surface measuring 16 m x 8 m, with a net height of 1.70 m for mixed, women’s, and under categories, and 1.80 m for men. For mini beach tennis (under 12), the court is reduced to 7 x 14 m with a 1.50 m net.
- Ball: The balls used are medium-pressurized (MID), classified by ITF Stage 2.
- Racket: The maximum length is 50 cm, including the handle, and the width is 30 cm, with no strings.
- Game: The game starts with a serve, and the ball must go over the net and land in the opponent’s area without touching the ground.
- Serve: The ball must be served over the net and into the opponent’s area.
- Scoring: Similar to traditional tennis (15, 30, 40, game). The match is won by the player who wins two out of three sets, with a set won by reaching 6 games with at least a two-game difference.
- Bounce: The ball cannot bounce and must be hit directly without touching the ground (only aerial play).
- Doubles: Beach tennis is played both in singles and doubles.
- Out Ball: If the ball lands outside the court limits or is hit more than once consecutively by a player, the point goes to the opponent.
- Change of Ends: Players switch sides at the end of the first, third, and every odd-numbered game. During a tiebreak, players switch after the first point and then every four points.
