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2.1
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THE TABLE
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2.1.1
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The upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular, 2.74m
long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the
floor.
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2.1.2
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The playing surface shall not include the vertical sides of the
tabletop.
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2.1.3
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The playing surface may be of any material and shall yield a uniform
bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height
of 30cm.
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2.1.4
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The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matt, but
with a white side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end
line, 2cm wide, along each 1.525m edge.
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2.1.5
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The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a
vertical net running parallel with the end lines, and shall be continuous
over the whole area of each court.
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2.1.6
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For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by
a white centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the
centre line shall be regarded as part of each right half-court.
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2.2
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THE NET ASSEMBLY
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2.2.1
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The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension
and the supporting posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table.
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2.2.2
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The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an
upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm
outside the side line.
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2.2.3
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The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above
the playing surface.
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2.2.4
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The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the playing surface and the ends of
the net shall be as close as possible to the supporting posts.
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2.3
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THE BALL
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2.3.1
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The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm.
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2.3.2
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The ball shall weigh 2.7g.
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2.3.3
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The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and
matt.
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2.4
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THE RACKET
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2.4.1
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The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall
be flat and rigid.
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2.4.2
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At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of
natural wood; an adhesive layer within the blade may be reinforced with
fibrous material such as carbon fibre, glass fibre or compressed paper, but shall not be
thicker than 7.5% of the total thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the
smaller.
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2.4.3
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A side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with
either ordinary pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total
thickness including adhesive of not more than 2mm, or sandwich rubber, with
pimples inwards or outwards, having a total thickness including adhesive of
not more than 4mm.
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2.4.3.1
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Ordinary pimpled rubber
is a single layer of non-cellular rubber, natural or synthetic, with pimples
evenly distributed over its surface at a density of not less than 10 per
sq. cm and not more than 30 per sq. cm.
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2.4.3.2
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Sandwich rubber
is a single layer of cellular rubber covered with a single outer layer of
ordinary pimpled rubber, the thickness of the pimpled rubber not being more
than 2mm.
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2.4.4
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The covering material shall extend up to but not beyond the limits
of the blade, except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the
fingers may be left uncovered or covered with any material.
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2.4.5
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The blade, any layer within the blade and any layer of covering
material or adhesive on a side used for striking the ball shall be
continuous and of even thickness.
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2.4.6
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The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a
side of the blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one
side and black on the other.
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2.4.7
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Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour
due to accidental damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not
significantly change the characteristics of the surface.
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2.4.8
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At the start of a match and whenever he changes his racket during a
match a player shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is
about to use and shall allow them to examine it.
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2.5
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DEFINITIONS
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2.5.1
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A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.
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2.5.2
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The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of
the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until the
rally is decided as a let or a point.
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2.5.3
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A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.
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2.5.4
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A point is a rally of which the result is scored.
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2.5.5
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The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.
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2.5.6
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The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket.
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2.5.7
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A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket,
held in the hand, or with his racket hand below the wrist.
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2.5.8
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A player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or
carries, touches it in play when it is above or travelling towards the
playing surface and has not passed beyond his end line, not having touched his
court since last being struck by his opponent.
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2.5.9
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The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.
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2.5.10
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The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.
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2.5.11
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The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.
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2.5.12
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The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain decisions.
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2.5.13
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Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything
that he was wearing or carrying, other than the ball, at the
start of the rally.
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2.5.14
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The ball shall be regarded as passing over
or around the net assembly if it passes anywhere other than between the net and the
net post or between the net and the playing surface.
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2.5.15
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The end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions.
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2.6
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A GOOD SERVICE
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2.6.1
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Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of
the server's stationary free hand.
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2.6.2
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The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards,
without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand
and then falls without touching anything before being struck.
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2.6.3
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As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his court and then,
after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's court; in
doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server
and receiver.
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2.6.4
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From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be
above the level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line,
and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by any part of the body or
clothing of the server or his doubles partner; as soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm shall be
removed from the space between the server’s body and the net.
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2.6.5
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It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire
or the assistant umpire can see that he complies with the
requirements for a good service.
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2.6.5.1
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If the umpire is doubtful of
the legality of a service he may, on the first occasion in a
match, declare a let and warn the server.
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2.6.5.2
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Any subsequent service of doubtful legality of that player or his
doubles partner will result in a point to the receiver.
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2.6.5.3
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Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for
a good service, no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a
point.
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2.6.6
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Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a good
service where he is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical
disability.
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2.7
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A GOOD RETURN
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2.7.1
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The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it
passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either
directly or after touching the net assembly.
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2.8
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THE ORDER OF PLAY
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2.8.1
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In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver
shall then make a good return and thereafter server and receiver
alternately shall each make a good return.
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2.8.2
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In doubles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver
shall then make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a
good return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return and
thereafter each player in turn in that sequence shall make a good return.
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2.9
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A LET
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2.9.1
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The rally shall be a let
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2.9.1.1
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if in service the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise
good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner;
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2.9.1.2
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if the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not
ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;
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2.9.1.3
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if failure to make a good service or a good return or otherwise to
comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the
player;
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2.9.1.4
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if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.
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2.9.2
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Play may be interrupted
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2.9.2.1
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to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;
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2.9.2.2
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to introduce the expedite system;
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2.9.2.3
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to warn or penalise a player;
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2.9.2.4
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because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could
affect the outcome of the rally.
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2.1
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A POINT
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2.10.1
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Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point
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2.10.1.1
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if his opponent fails to make a good service;
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2.10.1.2
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if his opponent fails to make a good return;
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2.10.1.3
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if, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball
touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent;
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2.10.1.4
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if the ball passes beyond his end line without touching his
court, after being struck by his opponent;
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2.10.1.5
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if his opponent obstructs the ball;
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2.10.1.6
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if his opponent strikes the
ball twice successively;
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2.10.1.7
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if his opponent strikes the
ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not comply with the
requirements of 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5;
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2.10.1.8
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if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves
the playing surface;
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2.10.1.9
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if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches
the net assembly;
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2.10.1.10
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if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;
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2.10.1.11
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if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the
first server and first receiver;
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2.10.1.12
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as provided under the expedite system (2.15.2).
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2.11
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A GAME
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2.11.1
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A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11
points unless both players or pairs score 10 points, when the game shall be
won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.
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2.12
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A MATCH
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2.12.1
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A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.
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2.13
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THE ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS
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2.13.1
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The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends
shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive
first or to start at a particular end.
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2.13.2
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When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start
at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.
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2.13.3
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After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or
pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the
game, unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the expedite system is
in operation, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be the same
but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
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2.13.4
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In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve
first shall choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a
match the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive first; in
subsequent games of the match, the first server having been chosen, the
first receiver shall be the player who served to him in the preceding game.
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2.13.5
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In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall
become the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the
receiver.
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2.13.6
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The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in
the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due
to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first one pair
scores 5 points.
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2.13.7
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The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other
end in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or pairs
shall change ends when first one player or pair scores 5 points.
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2.14
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OUT OF ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING OR ENDS
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2.14.1
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If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be
interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with
those players serving and receiving who should be server and receiver
respectively at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence
established at the beginning of the match and, in doubles, to the order of
serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the game
during which the error is discovered.
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2.14.2
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If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so,
play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with
the players at the ends at which they should be at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence
established at the beginning of the match.
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2.14.3
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In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an
error shall be reckoned.
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2.15
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THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM
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2.15.1
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Except where both players or pairs have scored at least 9 points, the expedite system shall come
into operation if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes' play or at
any earlier time at the request of both players or pairs.
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2.15.1.1
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If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be
interrupted by the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who
served in the rally that was
interrupted.
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2.15.1.2
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If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play
shall resume with service by the player who received in the immediately preceding
rally.
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2.15.2
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Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn until the
end of the game and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 good returns
the receiver shall score a point.
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2.15.3
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Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until
the end of the match.
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