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Tennis — rules, the AITA junior circuit & the road to LA28

Governed by International Tennis Federation (ITF) · All India Tennis Association (AITA) ·Official rule books & government schemes only ·Last checked 17 Oct 2026

Education Margdarshan's tennis map for India in simple words: the court and how a game, set and match are scored, the AITA junior ladder from Talent Series to the Nationals with its age rules, limits and entry fees, AITA's new ACE 2032 support policy, how LA28 places come from world rankings, who pays, and the awards and jobs.

📍 See The Journey / Full Roadmap ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 (PDF) (opens in a new tab) aitatennis.com (opens in a new tab)
Court (singles)
23.77 m × 8.23 m · doubles 10.97 m wide [1]
Net height at centre
0.914 m (3 ft) [1]
LA28 singles draw
64 per event — 56 by world ranking [3]
AITA registration
Compulsory for every AITA event [5]
01 Core rules & selection formats

The court, and how a game, set and match are won

  • The court is 23.77 m long and 8.23 m wide for singles (10.97 m for doubles). The net is 0.914 m high at the centre and 1.07 m at the posts. [1]

Tennis scoring in simple words [1]

Tennis scoring in simple words
UnitHow you win it
PointThe opponent fails to return the ball into your court, or serves two faults
GamePoints are called Love, 15, 30, 40, Game. At 40–40 it is Deuce: you must then win two points in a row
SetFirst to 6 games with a 2-game lead. In a tie-break set, at 6–6 a tie-break is played
Tie-breakPoints counted 1, 2, 3 …; first to 7 with a 2-point lead wins the game and the set
MatchBest of 3 sets (win 2) or best of 5 (win 3)
  • The server gets two serves per point; a foot fault — touching the baseline or the court with a foot during the serve — counts as a fault.
  • In a tie-break, players change ends every six points.
  • 2026 changes: a clarification on where a doubles server may stand, and that a fault does not stand if players are found at the wrong ends during a tie-break. [1][2]
02 Institutional & global recognition

Olympics, Asian Games, Grand Slams — and the cash that follows

LA28 Olympic tennis — the hard numbers [3]

LA28 Olympic tennis — the hard numbers
RuleWhat it says
EventsMen's and women's singles and doubles, mixed doubles
Places172; at most 6 per country per gender, 4 in each singles draw
Singles64-player draws: 56 by the ATP/WTA ranking of 12 June 2028, 1 host, 6 ITF places, 1 universality
Asian routeThe 2026 Asian Games singles champion gets an ITF place if ranked in the world top 500
Doubles32 teams; the world top 10 in doubles first, then by combined ranking
Must alsoYour national association must be an ITF member in good standing since at least 31 Dec 2027

Government cash award for a senior tennis medal or title (₹ lakh) [8]

Government cash award for a senior tennis medal or title (₹ lakh)
EventGold / winnerSilver / runner-upBronze
Olympic Games755030
Asian Games / Commonwealth Games302010
Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open (every year)1074

The Ministry's tennis list also includes the senior World Championships, the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup. Tennis is also a Khelo India Youth Games sport. [8][7]

03 Physical benchmarks & anti-doping

Age groups, tournament limits and anti-doping

AITA junior age groups and the yearly tournament limit (2026) [5]

AITA junior age groups and the yearly tournament limit (2026)
Age groupMax AITA tournaments in a year
Under 12 (born 2014–2019 for 2026)18
Under 1425
Under 1630
Under 18No limit
  • A younger player may play older age groups, but every tournament counts towards the yearly limit (singles and doubles of one event count as one). ITF and Asian Tennis Federation events do not count.
  • Breaking the limit brings penalties, which may include heavy penalty points.
  • Every player needs a valid AITA registration; without it you cannot enter any AITA event. [5]
  • Under the anti-doping code you must be available for testing and check every medicine against the Prohibited List; apply to NADA for a TUE if you need a banned medicine. [9]
04 Grassroots-to-elite pipeline

The AITA junior ladder — Talent Series to the Nationals

  1. 1Grassroots & local entry Under 12
  2. 2State to national breakthrough U14–U18
  3. 3National camp & elite trials Senior
  4. 4International orbit LA28
The full Tennis roadmap has its own page

Every stage from first club to the international level, the detailed route, the age-by-age ladder and what to eat from stage 1, with sources.

📍 See The Journey / Full Roadmap
05 Training centres & cities

Where India's tennis players train

  • Tennis is not among the sports at SAI's National Centres of Excellence or SAI Training Centres, so most players train at AITA-registered centres and academies and with state associations.
  • ACE 2032 may give selected juniors access to AITA or regional High-Performance Centres, national and regional camps, coaching and strength-and-conditioning support. [10][5][6]
  • AITA runs coach education courses and publishes the list of valid coaches — check that your coach is on it. [4]
06 Equipment costs & who pays

Rackets, tournaments, travel — and who pays

  • Tennis costs come from coaching hours, court time, rackets, strings, shoes, entry fees (₹400–1,100 per AITA singles event) and travel across zones. Education Margdarshan does not print shop prices — no governing body publishes them. [5]

Who pays — tennis ladder [6][11]

Who pays — tennis ladder
StagePaid byWhat you get
Selected junior (from 2027)AITA ACE 2032 with government and partnersTraining, competition, travel, equipment and medical grants
Khelo India athleteMinistry of Youth Affairs & Sports₹6.28 lakh a year incl. ₹1.20 lakh cash
Olympic prospectTOPS Core Group₹50,000 a month + approved training plan
Athlete in hardshipPDU National Welfare FundUp to ₹2.50 lakh
07 Earning channels & central job quotas

Prize money, awards and sports-quota jobs

  • Tennis is one of the 65 sports in the central sports quota for Group C posts, with up to 5 years' age relaxation (10 for SC/ST); soft tennis and tenni-koit are listed separately. [12]
  • Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons: ₹12,000–20,000 a month after retirement. [11]
08 Disqualification traps

Mistakes that cost juniors points and places

  • Playing more AITA events than your age limit — penalties, including heavy penalty points.
  • An expired AITA registration — you will not be allowed to play.
  • Entering a Talent Series outside your zone, or after a zone change without AITA's written approval.
  • Not turning up after entering — entry fees are not refunded. [5]
  • Foot faults under pressure — two faults lose the point. [1]
09 Real-world player doubts

Starting age, money, jobs and the Olympics — straight answers

Is tennis only for rich families?

It costs more than many sports — coaching, courts, rackets and travel — and tennis has no SAI NCOE. But support is growing: from 1 January 2027 AITA's ACE 2032 policy recommends selected U12–U18 players for training, travel, equipment and need-based grants, and Khelo India pays selected athletes ₹6.28 lakh a year. Junior events also cap the number of tournaments, which keeps costs down. [6][11][10][5]

How do I get into the Olympics in tennis?

Mostly by world ranking: 56 of 64 singles places go by the ATP/WTA ranking of 12 June 2028. The 2026 Asian Games singles champion also gets a place if ranked in the world top 500. So you must play ITF and professional events to earn ranking points. [3]

Which government jobs can tennis get me?

Central Group C posts under DoPT rules list tennis among 65 sports. Neither Western Railway's 2026-27 notice nor CRPF's 2026 sports quota had tennis posts — each recruiter advertises only the sports its teams need, so read every notice. [12][13][14]

Sports-quota job routes open in 2026 — age, qualifying results, pay [13][14]

Sports-quota job routes open in 2026 — age, qualifying results, pay
RouteAgeMain qualifying resultsPay level
Railways Level 5/4 (graduates)18–25 on 1 Jan 2027Played the Olympics, or top 3 at a World Cup, World Championship, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or Youth OlympicsLevel 5/4
Railways Level 3/2 (12th, or 10th + apprenticeship)18–25 on 1 Jan 2027Top 3 at Senior, Youth or Junior Nationals, National Games or All India Inter-University; or Federation Cup goldLevel 3/2
Railways Level 118–25 on 1 Jan 2027Played for your state and finished at least 8th at Senior Nationals; or top 3 at the Federation CupLevel 1
CRPF Head Constable (GD) (10+2)18–23 on 1 Aug 2026; sportspersons get +5 years (OBC +8, SC/ST +10)Played for India; or top 3 for your state at Nationals or National Games; or gold/silver at Junior NationalsLevel 4 · ₹25,500–81,100
CRPF Constable (GD) (10th pass)18–23 on 1 Aug 2026; sportspersons get +5 years (OBC +8, SC/ST +10)Played for your state at Senior or Junior Nationals; or top 3 at SGFI school nationals or Khelo India GamesLevel 3 · ₹21,700–69,100

Railways count results from 1 April 2024; CRPF counts the two years before 30 September 2026. Railways fee ₹500 (₹400 back if you attend the trial; ₹250, refunded in full on attending, for SC/ST, women, PwBD, minorities, ex-servicemen and EBC). CRPF fee ₹100 for UR/OBC/EWS men; free for women, SC, ST and ex-servicemen. CRPF picks sign a ₹1 lakh bond to serve at least 3 years. [13][14]

Does any 'national' certificate count for a job?

No. Railways will not recruit on a certificate from a federation MoYAS did not recognise at the time of the championship, and CRPF counts only championships of MoYAS-recognised federations or the IOA's National Games. [13][14]

10 Official sources & verification

Where these facts come from

Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from the governing body's own rule book or a Government of India file below, read on 17 October 2026. Federations change rules, weight classes and scheme amounts — open the current file before you act on it.

  1. ITF — Rules of Tennis 2026 (opens in a new tab) Court and net sizes, game, tie-break, set and match scoring, service, foot fault, change of ends · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  2. ITF — 2026 Amendments to the Rules of Tennis and Beach Tennis (opens in a new tab) Rule 18 doubles foot-fault clarification, Rule 27 tie-break end-change clarification · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  3. ITF — Qualification System, LA28 Olympic Games: Tennis (version 12 May 2026; copy published by DOSB) (opens in a new tab) 5 events, 172 places, 6 per NOC, 12 June 2028 rankings, 2026 Asian Games route, doubles rules, ITF membership · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  4. All India Tennis Association — official website (opens in a new tab) Coach courses, valid coaches list, documents · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  5. AITA — Tournament Structure for Juniors and Rules of the AITA Junior Circuit (effective 1 Jan 2026) (opens in a new tab) Registration, yearly tournament limits, Talent to National Series and Nationals, zones, entry fees, penalties · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  6. AITA — Policy Paper ACE 2032: Talent Identification, Selection and Support Policy for Junior Tennis (approved 30 Sep 2026, effective 1 Jan 2027) (opens in a new tab) Purpose, U12–U18 scope, player categories, financial and technical support · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  7. Khelo India Youth Games 2025 (Bihar) — official site (opens in a new tab) Tennis among the 27 KIYG sports · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  8. MYAS — Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners (amended 1 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) Award amounts; tennis Grand Slams (annual), World Championships, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  9. NADA India — Athlete's Rights & Responsibilities (opens in a new tab) Testing availability, Prohibited List, TUE · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  10. SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (opens in a new tab) NCOE and STC sport lists (tennis not included) · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  11. PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India, TOPS, welfare fund, pension · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  12. DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Tennis, soft tennis and tenni-koit in the 65-sport list, Group C · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  13. Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) Age 18–25 on 1 Jan 2027, level norms, no tennis posts in this notice, MoYAS-recognition rule, fees · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  14. CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) Age and relaxation, qualifications, fee, bond; no tennis posts in 2026 · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
  15. ITF — 2026 ITF World Tennis Masters Tour Regulations (December 2025) (opens in a new tab) Masters age groups 30+ to 90+ for men and women, in five-year steps; singles, doubles, mixed · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  16. SAI NSNIS Patiala — Six Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching (opens in a new tab) 6 weeks (4 online, 2 offline), ₹14,800, Class 12 + district-level top 3 or state / inter-university / SGFI / national participation · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  17. SAI NSNIS Patiala — Diploma in Sports Coaching (course page, 2026-27) (opens in a new tab) 1 year, ₹63,800, 785 + 104 seats in 26 disciplines at Patiala, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram; Category A (Class 12 + international record), B (graduation + national record) · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  18. Khelo India Youth Games 2026 (Telangana) — Sports (opens in a new tab) The 25 disciplines listed for KIYG 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  19. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition — Dietary Guidelines for Indians (booklet), Guideline 8 (opens in a new tab) Cereal-pulse 3:1 protein quality, vegetarian and non-vegetarian protein sources; most athletes meet protein needs from food, protein powders unnecessary · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
  20. NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Supplement risk, strict liability, food-first approach · Last checked 15 Oct 2026

Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and Education Margdarshan will update it.

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