A tennis alley, or alleys (plural), is the strip on either side of the court that’s used to widen the court for doubles play. In singles play, alleys are out of bounds.
Tennis alleys are the narrow areas on a tennis court outside the singles sidelines, used only in doubles play.
Alleys extend the width of the playable area by 4.5 feet on each side of the court–extending the total width by nine feet. The doubles court measures 36 feet wide versus the singles 27 feet (both are 78 feet in length).
Below we explore tennis alleys further, including the history of them, how they’re used, and why they can be of strategic importance.
Purpose & Rules
Alleys on a tennis court are used strictly for doubles play and are considered out for singles matches. The purpose was to make for more room–playable space for the players to move around the court on.
There is a strategic use for tennis alleys too, as many players use them to their advantage. The wider court means there’s more area to cover, which is why angled shots and defensive positioning are common amongst the world’s best doubles players.
History of Tennis Alleys
Prior to the late 1800s, tennis courts weren’t laid out for doubles gameplay. However, when doubles matches started to gain in popularity around this time, courts began getting alleys added and became standardized additions.
Common Misconceptions
New players to the game may not fully understand the rules as they relate to tennis alley sidelines. For example, singles players are often under the impression that this area of the court is in play. Of course, and as we’ve clearly stated, they’re only in play for doubles.
Others are under the assumption that tennis alleys are decorative and have no practical application.
Strategic Importance
Good doubles tennis players know the advantages of playing on a wider court. The biggest strategic advantage used in conjunction with them is hitting wider shots–pushing opponents out of position.
When players are spread wide, that leaves just one player to defend the large majority of the court–somewhere close to 740 square feet.
Wide shots also give the aggressor an opportunity to reset their defensive positioning, as their opponents scramble.
Tennis Alley Drills & Practice
Practicing those wide-angled returns is important and can be done with some cones or markers to aim for.
Doubles players may also consider practicing synchronized movement. When one must move to the side of the court to chase after an angled shot, the other must know where to move in order to remain defensively strong.
Simulating scenarios allows for doubles players to work on footwork and positioning–arguably two of the most important skills to have.
Want to Learn More About Tennis?
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