How to Play

Points

If your opponent does not return the ball after it has bounced one time, you'll win the point. In tennis, both players start at 0. If you win one point, your score is 15. Two points is 30, and three points is 40.

Deuce

A deuce happens when the score is 40-40. In order to win the game in this situation, you must first win the point to gain an advantage, then win the next point. If your opponent wins the point when you have advantage, you'll be back to a deuce.

Game

If your score is 40 and you win the point, you also win the game—except when your opponent's score is also 40. Once you've won the number of games decided on in the rules, you'll win the set.

Set

You will win a set after winning the number of games decided on in the rules. Once you win the number of sets that had been decided on, you will win the match.

Win Conditions

You will win the match by scoring the number of points decided on in the rules. For example, in Quick Play, that number is 7.

Tiebreaker

In a tiebreaker, scoring works differently and each point is counted individually. A tiebreaker ends once a player reaches 7 points, unless the score is 6 to 6. In that case, the match continues until a player earns a 2-point lead.

How to Score

After the serve, players hit the ball back and forth in what's called a rally. If your opponent can't return the ball before it bounces twice, you'll get the point. If the rally goes on a long time, players will start to move slower.

Out

If you return the ball but it doesn't land inbounds on your opponent's side of the court, it is considered out. Your opponent will win the point.

Where to Serve

When serving, you must hit the serve onto an area on your opponent's side called the service court. This area is always the portion diagonally opposite the area you serve from.

Fault

If the ball you serve doesn't enter your opponent's side of the court, it will be counted as a fault. Get two faults in a row, and your opponent will win the point.

Let

If the ball you serve touches the net before entering your opponent's side of the court, it will be counted as a let, and you will need to serve again.

Service Ace

A service ace is when you serve the ball, your opponent is unable to touch it, and the serve scores.

Return Ace

A return ace is when you return a serve, your opponent is unable to touch it, and the return scores.

Singles Sideline

In singles matches, players use the inner sidelines. The outer sidelines on the edges of the court are for doubles, so the space in those areas is considered out in singles matches.

Doubles Sideline

In doubles matches, players use the doubles sidelines that run around the outside edge of the court. Since the court is wider than in singles play, doubles partners need to skillfully split up their areas to defend effectively.

Fever Racket

Disable Fever Rackets, and a match will turn into a test of pure tennis skill, or enable them to allow for intense matches with a high chance of sudden upsets.

Character Type

Powerful: Fast shots, good at knocking back opponents Speedy: Moves quickly, reaches the ball more easily Technical: Good at aiming for the corners of the court Tricky: Can apply a strong curve to shots Defensive: Possesses greater reach than others All-Around: Generally well-balanced stats

Left-Handed

Once you select a CPU character on the character- select screen, you can then select their difficulty. If you find a higher-difficulty CPU too challenging, try turning them down a little.

CPU Difficulty

Select Left if you play with your racket in your left hand. You can select this setting by pressing on the character-select screen, or you can make it the default setting for P1 from Settings on the main menu.

Camera Setting

You can select where the camera will be positioned during the match by pressing while selecting a court. Standard is generally positioned behind the player, letting you see the bounce of the ball well. Raised gives a good overall view of the court from above.

Court Ball Speed

How fast a ball moves after it bounces depends on the court you're playing on. Balls will lose a lot of speed after bouncing on courts with a slow ball speed but will lose a lot less on courts with a fast ball speed.

Court Bounce

How high a ball bounces depends on the court you're playing on, and it can influence how you play. For example, it's easier to score using drop shots when you play on courts with weak bounces and slow ball speeds.

Ball Type

The kind of ball chosen during court selection can affect how fast your shots move.

Slow Ball: A slow ball. Good for beginners. Standard Ball: A balanced-speed ball. High-Speed Ball: A fast ball. Really speeds up rallies.

Serving

A rally starts when the server hits the ball onto the opponent's side of the court.

Controls: press to toss the ball, then press , , or to hit it

Hitting Shots

Press the shot button before the ball arrives, and you will begin preparing to return the ball. You don't have to press the button again to hit the ball.

Controls: press , , or

Aiming Shots

If you tilt left or right with when returning a ball, you can return the ball in the indicated direction.

Controls: press the shot button and tilt

Charging Shots

Press the shot button before the ball arrives to charge up power. The longer you charge, the stronger and faster your shot will be. However, you will move slower while charging up, so make sure you're in position.

Too Far to Charge

You won't start charging a swing if you press the shot button when you're too far away from the ball.

Powerful Shots

If you press the shot button twice, you can deliver a fast shot! However, doing so will make it harder to aim the shot toward the court's edges. You can also do this when charging up a shot.

Controls: press , , or twice

Topspin

A basic shot that bounces high up. It can push your opponent backward if you unleash a powerful shot by pressing the button twice.

Controls: press

Slice

A slow shot that can be used defensively. If you use it when your opponent sends a powerful shot your way, it can keep you from getting pushed far back. Some characters can put a lot of curve on this shot.

Controls: press

Flat

This is the fastest shot, and it generally flies straight ahead. The power of this increases if the ball is high up when it's hit.

Controls: press

Lob

A shot that sends the ball flying high up. It is best used when the opponent has moved forward on their side of the court.

Controls: press then

Drop Shot

A shot that causes the ball to drop earlier. It is best used when an opponent is staying near the back of their side of the court.

Controls: press then

Star Shot

A powerful shot where you unleash all your power on a ball that has triggered a star point.

Controls: stand in the star point and press

Star Point

A star-shaped mark that can appear on the court. Stand on it, and you can hit a Star Shot.

Sliding

If the ball is a little bit out of reach, you can still get to it by sliding. However, you won't be able to charge up your swing when sliding, so the ball you hit back will be weaker.

Controls: press , , or

Leap Shot

You can leap in a direction to reach the ball when it's far away, but doing so will leave you off balance and result in a weak shot. You will also be far to one side, leaving a lot of your side of the court undefended.

Controls: press , , or

Fever Shot

When a bar of your FV Gauge is full, you can draw out the power of the racket and deliver a Fever Shot. If the ball is somewhat high up, you will need to press the button early to reach it.

Controls: press

Rackets with Effects

Each Fever Racket has a special power, and the powers have different effects. For example, one racket may cause the ball to leave fire on the ground, while another may power you up for a while. And be careful! If you're too close to the impact point of a dangerous ball, your HP Gauge will take a hit.

Fever Shot Counter

When you hit a Fever Shot back at your opponent before it bounces, it's called a Fever Shot Counter. If you counter a Fever Shot and it hits your opponent's side of the court, it can create an area of effect there! There are also some effects that get stronger the more times the shot is countered.

HP Gauge

If you take damage from a Fever Shot, your HP Gauge will go down. If your HP Gauge gets depleted, you'll need to step off the court to recover. Once your HP Gauge refills, you'll return to the game. However, you won't be able to leave if your HP Gauge is depleted and you're the only player on your side.

FV Gauge

Your FV Gauge will fill up as the rally goes on, and once it fills up completely, you can unleash a Fever Shot. You can also hold on to that first charge and allow the FV Gauge to fill a second time, but it will take some time. You'll be able to use your Fever Shot more if you use it shortly after the FV Gauge is full.

Lock-On

You can aim your Fever Shots at different parts of the court. Use to adjust your aim.

When playing on courts with hazards in Mix It Up, you can use the Lock-On function to aim at a nearby target.

Super Charge Shot

When you charge a shot up enough, it will become a Super Charge Shot. This kind of shot is faster and can push your opponent back when it connects.

Controls: press the shot button early and then keep charging until your swing lights up

Parrying a Shot

Star Shots and topspins with lots of power can send opponents flying to the back of the court. Power characters can hit especially hard Super Charge Shots. If you use a slice () when hitting back an opponent's shot, it'll be less likely to knock you back— very helpful for smaller, lighter characters.

Serve Timing

If your swing connects with the ball at its highest point, you'll deliver a powerful serve and see the word Nice. Since it takes a little time to swing the racket, the key is to press the button just before the ball reaches its peak. Keep in mind that the timing can be a little different between characters.

Taunting

If you hit the shot button before the opponent hits the shot back, you can amp yourself up and increase the power of your next shot slightly.

Controls: press the shot button before the opponent returns the ball

Curving Serves Create Space

You can send the ball to the edge of the court on your serve by pressing to hit a slicing serve. Your opponent will need to move to that edge to hit the ball back, which may give you an opening to aim for the other edge and score.

A Tough Serve to Counter

You can send the ball zipping to the inside of the court on your serve by pressing . Fast-moving serves are tough to respond to, especially if your opponent isn't expecting them.

Move Your Opponent Back and Forth

Create openings by forcing your opponent to keep moving forward and backward. You can pull this off by using a topspin shot to push them back, then follow up with a drop shot to force them forward. Another good combination is a drop shot followed by a lob to the back.

Move Your Opponent Left and Right

You can aim for the edges of the court by tilting at the same time as you press the shot button. Do this to force your opponent to constantly move left and right. Once you've got a rhythm going, trip them up by reversing it!

Flat Shots and Topspin Shots

Flats have more power when they're used to return a high ball, making them especially strong against topspin shots. Try to hit back a topspin using a charged-up flat shot!

Adding Angle to a Volley

When you're up close to the net, you can throw your opponent off by tilting and only pressing the shot button once. This will let you angle your return shot in the direction you tilted. Keep in mind that the powerful shots you trigger by pressing the shot button twice can't be angled in the same way.

Hitting Down the Line

If you've been pushed to the edge of the court, try sending your return straight down the sideline. For example, if you're on the right side of the court, press the shot button and tilt .

Know Your Opponents

Every player has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. If you know about your opponent, you can use your own strengths to take advantage of their weaknesses!

Playing in Swing Mode

You can hit the ball back by swinging the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con when the ball arrives, and you can hit the ball to the left or right by adjusting the timing of your swing. You can cancel charging a shot by pressing . Your character will automatically move to the ball, or you can control your movements using or .

Swing Stance

Hold the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con in front of you and wait for the ball.

If the ball flies to the right of your character, hold the controller on your right side. If the ball flies to the left, hold the controller to your left.

Swinging Late

If you don't hit the ball with perfect timing and swing a little late, the ball will fly to the same side of the court as you were holding the racket on.

Swinging Early

If you don't hit the ball with perfect timing and swing a little too early, the ball will fly to the opposite side of the court as you were holding the racket on.

Topspin

A basic shot that bounces high up. When charged up, it can push your opponent backward.

Controls: while holding the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con at your waist, swing diagonally upward

Slice

A slow shot that can be used defensively. Some characters can put a lot of curve on this shot.

Controls: while holding the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con at your waist, swing diagonally downward

Flat

The fastest shot you can hit. It generally flies straight ahead. The power of this increases if the ball is high up when it's hit.

Controls: swing the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con horizontally forward without twisting your wrist

Lob

A shot that sends the ball flying high up. It is best used when the opponent has moved forward on their side of the court.

Controls: swing the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con upward in a scooping motion

Drop Shot

A shot that causes the ball to drop earlier. It is best used when an opponent is staying near the back of their side of the court.

Controls: move the Joy-Con 2 / Joy-Con gently downward

Fever Shot

When a bar of your FV Gauge is full, you can draw out the power of the racket and deliver a Fever Shot.

Controls: swing while pressing , , , , or