The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is false.
The statement “The alley is used for singles and doubles games” is incorrect based on the rules of common racket sports such as tennis or badminton, where alleys are a feature of the court. The use of the alley is one of the primary rule distinctions between the two formats of play.
In sports like tennis, the “alley” or “tramline” is the area of the court between the singles sideline and the doubles sideline. The function of this space is entirely dependent on the number of players in the game.
During a doubles match, the court is expanded to its maximum width. The alleys are considered part of the legal playing area. If a ball lands in the alley during a rally, it is “in,” and play continues. Teams of two players use this additional space for strategic shot placement and to create wider angles, making the alley an integral part of doubles gameplay.
In contrast, during a singles match, the playing court is narrower. The boundaries for a singles game are the inner sidelines, which means the alleys are explicitly designated as “out” of bounds. If a player hits a shot that lands in the alley, it is a fault, and they lose the point. The alley is not a valid target area and is not used for play in a singles context.
Therefore, because the alley is only considered “in” and actively used for play during doubles matches and is considered “out” for singles matches, the statement that it is used for both is false. The rules create a fundamental difference in the playing dimensions for each game type, with the alley being the specific area that changes status.
