<P> A serve ( or , more formally , a service ) in tennis is a shot to start a point . A player will hit the ball with a racquet so it will fall into the diagonally opposite service box without being stopped by the net . Normally players begin a serve by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it ( usually near the highest point of the toss ) . The ball can only touch the net on a return and will be considered good if it falls on the opposite side . If the ball contacts the net on the serve but then proceeds to the proper service box , it is called a let ; this is not a legal serve in the major tours ( but see below ) although it is also not a fault . Players typically serve overhead , but serving underhand , although rare , is allowed . The serve is the only shot a player can take their time to set up instead of having to react to an opponent 's shot . But as of 2012 , there is a 25 - second limit to be allowed between points . </P>
<P> A serve ( or , more formally , a service ) in tennis is a shot to start a point . A player will hit the ball with a racquet so it will fall into the diagonally opposite service box without being stopped by the net . Normally players begin a serve by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it ( usually near the highest point of the toss ) . The ball can only touch the net on a return and will be considered good if it falls on the opposite side . If the ball contacts the net on the serve but then proceeds to the proper service box , it is called a let ; this is not a legal serve in the major tours ( but see below ) although it is also not a fault . Players typically serve overhead , but serving underhand , although rare , is allowed . The serve is the only shot a player can take their time to set up instead of having to react to an opponent 's shot . But as of 2012 , there is a 25 - second limit to be allowed between points . </P>
where does the tennis ball have to land on a serve
where does the tennis ball have to land on a serve
into the diagonally opposite service box without being stopped by the net
into the diagonally opposite service box without being stopped by the net