The ad court is the left side of the tennis court from the perspective of the player facing the net. Its name comes from the word advantage, which is the score after a deuce point is won by one player. All advantage points are served from this side of the baseline into the diagonally opposite service box.
This side is often considered the pressure side because it is where most games are decided and won. Left-handed players often have a natural advantage on this side because they can serve the ball wide with a slice. In doubles, the player with the stronger backhand or better return often chooses to play on the ad side.
For example, if the score is thirty-forty, the server must stand behind the ad court to start the next point. This side of the court creates unique angles that can be difficult for right-handed players to defend. Understanding court geography starts with knowing which side you should be standing on for every point.
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