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5.B.4Player Positions During Rallies

Once the serve is hit and returned, you can stand anywhere on your own side of the net. Only the serving and receiving positions are fixed, and you must stay on your own end while the ball is live, except for the net-crossing allowance in 13.I.

Show me on the court

First rally of a doubles game

Myths about this

“In doubles, both partners serve at the start of every game.”
See Rule 5.B.4 in the official 2026 Rulebook ↗