5. Player Positions and Serving Sequence›5.B

5.B.2Designation of First and Second Servers

After each side out, the player standing on the right side for their team's score starts serving and is the first server. Their partner is the second server. At the start of a game, the opening server is treated as the second server, so that team gets just one serve before a side out.

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Show me on the court

Side out: who serves next?Calling the score as server two First rally of a doubles game

Myths about this

“In doubles, both partners serve at the start of every game.”“After a side out, the player who did not serve last time must serve.”

See Rule 5.B.2 in the official 2026 Rulebook ↗