Moderno is played on a regulation tennis court. But there are several distinct differences between it and other forms of tennis.
SCORING
# Each set is comprised of points. Rather than conventional 15-30-40, tennis scoring, modern tennis plays on cumulative points. Each match is 3 sets in length, with each set lasting until one players scores 24 points. The player with the most points at the end of 3 sets, wins the match. If the match is tied at the end of three sets, the players will play a sudden-death set, with the first player reaching 13 points winning the tiebreaker and the match.
# At 23-square, you can’t lose the match on a service fault. Meaning that if a player faults, the opposing player receives the 24th point, but play continues with service automatically reverting to the non-serving player from the previous point. Meanwhile, the match is now played to 24 (or the next number in sequence if it happens again) At 24-square, service alternates between the players until someone prevails.
# Cumulative Scoring
: The player with the most points at the end of three sets, is the winner of the match - not the player who wins 2 out of 3 sets, as all three sets are played regardless of the score.
SERVE
# No lets: The ball is played off the net regardless. If the serve goes into the service box off the net, the point is played like a normal point. If it goes out of the box on the serve, the point is awarded to the opposing player.
# Only 1 serve: Players are not afforded the ability to double fault. Players get one serve per point. If they fault, the point is awarded to the opposing player.
# Serve/Changeover:
Players alternate serving every six points. Changeovers occur every 12 points.
# Servers chooses service direction:
The serving player decides which service box they will serve to. Players in modern tennis serve the ball directly to the service box on the opposite side of the service court, rather than at the box diagonal to it as in regular tennis.
COURT SIZE
# The alleys are in:
Modern Tennis singles matches use the "doubles" alleys are part of the regular court of play. The alleys are not part of the service area on serve.
ACTION
# Fans are part of the game!
In moderno, fans can cheer, heckle, and otherwise act like fans at sporting events do. This changes the complexion of the event, as it requires players to focus and to remain unrattled.
