1(in tennis, badminton, and other sports) a line on a court marking the limit of the area into which the ball must be served.
Example sentencesExamples
- With a bit of clever footwork we managed to get great seats right behind the service line so he'd see our flag.
- The wind forced the players to step back several times from the service line and dodge paper and plastic debris blowing onto the court from the stands.
- A double fault on 15-30 gives Serena two match points - and she duly converts them when Mauresmo fires a forehand wide of the service line.
- It's supposed to be 21 feet from the net to the service line and then 18 feet to the baseline.
- After a four-set loss to Italy in their first game, the Americans put on an impressive show on defense and especially at the service line.
- 1.1 (especially in handball and paddleball) a line on a court marking the boundary of the area in which the server must be standing when serving.