How do time violations work?

Under Tennis Canada's Code of Conduct (Rules of the Court 2026) the time limits are:

• 25 seconds between points, from when the ball goes out of play until the first serve is struck
• 90 seconds on changeovers (play is continuous after the first game of each set and during a tie-break)
• 120 seconds on set breaks

The receiver must play to the reasonable pace of the server. The first violation is a Time Violation warning. Each later, non-consecutive violation costs a server a fault and a receiver a point penalty. Time violations have their own schedule, separate from the Point Penalty Schedule.

If a player is still not ready after a further 25 seconds, the second violation is treated as a Delay of Game Code Violation under the Point Penalty Schedule instead. An emergency toilet break during a game or before the opponent's serve brings consecutive time violations, to a maximum of the game in progress (if serving) plus the opponent's next service game.