Alley Meaning in Tennis

The alley is the narrow strip along each side of the court. It sits between the singles line and the doubles line. In singles matches, the alley is out of bounds. In doubles matches, it becomes part of the court. This makes the doubles court wider. Players must adjust their positioning accordingly. The alley creates more space to cover.

For example, a doubles team may hit a shot down the alley. Their opponents must react quickly to reach it. In singles, that same shot would be out. The alley changes strategy depending on the format. Understanding it helps players avoid simple mistakes.