Understanding the rules of Mixed Doubles is paramount to keeping matches enjoyable, safe and competitive. Each team consists of male and female players.
Points are scored like regular doubles tennis, with the first team to reach six points with an advantage of two winning the set. There are some unique rules regarding serving and receiving.
Scoring
Mixed doubles tennis is a variation on the classic tennis game played between two teams of two players (one male and one female on each side). The basic rules are similar to regular doubles with service order and scoring being determined alternatingly among male and female players following every game.
Scoring in singles matches usually utilizes the 15-point tiebreak system; however, adding another player complicates things further. There are various methods by which points may be scored in doubles matches; most commonly it’s done after winning 15 points; once scores tie at 6-6 a tiebreak must then take place to decide who wins the point.
Mixed doubles players may score a point by winning their next point by an advantage of two points. This strategy is frequently employed when tied at 6-6; it can also work when tied at 7-7.
At club level, scoring and serving rules for mixed doubles may vary based on the players involved. For instance, senior and weaker players often feature heavily in social leagues; it would not be considered good manners to serve at these players with high speed. Furthermore, female opponents tend to differ greatly from their male counterparts as female players at both average and top levels have slower reaction times and may not be used to returning a 220kph serve; servers must therefore take this into consideration when selecting serves for them.
At higher levels of mixed doubles play, the rules can become more uniform. For instance, when serving against female opponents, male players must serve wide to take advantage of her weaker return and forehand returns and forehand. When serving against both genders simultaneously, however, focusing on deep returns early may help you take control of each point early.
Serving
Serving is typically divided among players on each team in turns for one game. Often the winning team serves first when beginning another set or tie break; however, any team may alter this as desired at any point during play.
Tie breaks require players to remember that if unintentional interference occurs during a point, it must be treated as an illegal play and restarted immediately; since no player may intentionally impede an opponent’s shot.
If a player’s partner stands too closely to a returning server, they could obstruct his or her return and thus be considered obstructionists. Therefore, it is critical that players and their partners communicate during points. In particular, server’s partners should know when their partner is about to serve and should be ready for an errant lob; similarly receiver’s partners must be ready for hitting down the line or into the net.
Club level mixed doubles etiquette depends on the standard of players. In general, when competing for money and playing at higher levels it is expected that good etiquette be observed; this includes being mindful to elderly or weaker players while avoiding hitting balls at high speed directly at them.
At more competitive tournaments, like men’s and women’s grand slam events, specific rules regulate mixed doubles play. In general, the first team to win two sets wins the match; an exception might occur if a set goes to a 10 point tie breaker – in such an instance it is customary that the stronger server serves first during such tie breaker games.
Returns
Returning serves in doubles requires keeping several things in mind. First, servers must always aim at either their partner or an opponent on the opposing team’s partner – this differs significantly from singles where you can hit anywhere on the court without penalty; if a serving player hits either partner prior to ball bouncing they will incur a fault penalty and be penalized accordingly.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, how players return serves can have an enormous influence on their overall game. Generally, an aggressive returner will win out. A well-executed return can be used to disrupt an opposing team’s strategy or simply put pressure on them.
An effective strategy to do so is by employing various shots. Utilize various levels of power and angle while also changing up shot selection – for instance a short lob can surprise opponents while drop shots can capitalize on weaknesses in opponents’ defenses.
As another important consideration when returning a serve is its location on the court. When facing female opponents with slower reaction times, wide serves should be preferred, while serving down the middle can target them more effectively.
Most tennis tournaments will consist of two out of three sets; however, certain competitions may feature an extra set or tiebreaker (10 point tiebreaker). It is essential that both amateur and professional tennis players know ahead of time how many sets will be featured in their matches.
Mixed doubles requires some adjustments from singles when it comes to rules, scoring, and teamwork, but mastering it can add a whole new layer of excitement and anticipation to your tennis experience. By employing appropriate serving, returning, and net play strategies your doubles game could reach new heights! For help developing this area of the game why not reach out to our expert tennis coaches at Tennis 360 Meydan today and enroll in adult group lessons!
Net play
When playing mixed doubles, being well-positioned at the net is essential. Doing so allows you to intercept shots that would otherwise pass out of reach for you and your partner, such as those hit down the doubles sideline. Furthermore, being close to the net forces players either to hit their shot wide or near enough that it does not allow them to score an outright winner against you.
Positioning of team members at the net also depends on their respective skill levels. Since male players tend to have faster reaction times than female ones, placing them where they can cover most ground and intercept shots is ideal. On the other hand, female players tend to excel at volleying so it would be wiser to place them where they can leverage this strength.
One factor to keep in mind when setting up your serve strategy against each opponent is how best to approach their service strategy. When facing off against female opponents, wide serves can often help put her off balance; on the other hand, male players should focus on serving down the middle against backhand serves, which gives more power on returns from your opponents.
Once you understand the fundamental rules, more advanced strategies become possible. At Tennis 360 Meydan, our adult group tennis lessons are tailored specifically to the needs of every participant–beginners learning the fundamentals to experienced competitors looking to maximize their doubles game. Our expert coaches can teach proper court positioning and communication techniques that will enhance mixed doubles play.
Mixed doubles is an increasingly popular format in many clubs and at Grand Slam events, often occurring alongside men’s and women’s singles matches. It can be an intense competitive or social affair depending on participant preference; its scoring format typically favors three sets; if a tie-break becomes necessary after 40 points have been exchanged it could use this to determine who the eventual victor will be.