receiving orderdoubles rulesdeuce and ad courts
Can Doubles Partners Switch Return Sides During a Set?
The receiving team sets its order at the start of the set and keeps that same order throughout the set.

Start with this check
Letting whichever player feels more comfortable receive from game to game violates the established receiving order.
Try these steps in order
- Before the set begins, decide who will receive in the deuce court and who will receive in the ad court.
- Keep the same receiving order in every game during that set.
- When a new set begins, the team may choose a different receiving order if it wishes.
Bottom line
Doubles return sides are chosen at the start of a set, not from game to game.
Reviewed sources
Technical evidence is shown separately from community topic signals.
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