Beach tennis

Beach Tennis: What It Is and How to Play

Beach tennis stands out from other sports because the ball does not bounce. The winner is the first to reach two sets, with a margin of two. In case of a tie at six games, a tie-break is played without advantages. It is primarily played in doubles, but also in singles on a smaller court (4.5 m).

History of Beach Tennis

Beach tennis took its first steps in Italy in the ’70s when vacationing tennis players used oversized rackets on beach volleyball courts. The true Beach Tennis, as we know it today, was born in 1996 on the Romagna coast with the same tennis rules (only played in the air). In 2003, the first Beach Tennis events were organized in Emilia Romagna and Lazio. From 2005, the first European championships were held, and in 2009, the first ITF Beach Tennis World Championship took place in Rome, Italy. In 2010, Beach Tennis was recognized as a sport by the International Tennis Federation. It wasn’t until 2012 that the first Team Beach Tennis World Championship was held in Moscow.

How is a Beach Tennis Racket Made?

The racket has a wide head for power and control, a non-slip handle for sand, lightweight materials like carbon fiber, and resistance to sand and water. Lightness, maneuverability, and resistance are adapted to beach conditions.

Beach Tennis Rules

Court: Beach tennis is played on a sand surface of 16 m x 8 m with a net height of 1.70 m.
Ball: Balls used for the game must be moderately pressurized (MID).
Racket: The maximum length should be 55 cm, including the handle, and a width of 30 cm without strings.
Game: It starts with the serve, and the ball must pass over the net and land in the opponent’s area without touching the ground.
Service: The ball must be hit over the net and into the opponent’s area.
Score: It is similar to traditional tennis (15, 30, 40, game). The match is won by the first to win two sets out of three, with a set won by reaching 6 games first, with at least a two-game difference.
Bounce: The ball cannot bounce and must be hit directly without touching the ground (game only in flight).
Doubles: In beach tennis, both singles and doubles are played.
Ball Out: If the ball lands outside the court boundaries or is touched more than once consecutively by a player, the point goes to the opponent.
Change of Ends: Occurs at the end of the first, third, and every odd-numbered game. During a tie-break, players must change ends after the first point and then every four points.