What is the different between doubles and singles in tennis matches?

I need this for my homework, so please help! I need a technical detail of differences and similarities of doubles and singles. Please don’t put opinions of what you think is better, or easier. Thanks in advance! ^^
Also, please put more than one sentence with more details.

Not much to add in terms of rules to what others have stated. Obviously with doubles there are four people on court, and the full tennis court is used (i.e. the ‘tramlines’).

In terms of individual play, natural volleyers do well at doubles (by volleyer, I mean players whose game revolves around hitting the ball at net without it touching the ground) because of the fast play and exchanges between teams. Tim Henman was a decent doubles player, despite him not playing much outside of the Davis Cup, because he was a classic serve-volleyer.

Generally speaking, you find the points are shorter, because the exchanges are so fast between teams. This means the matches as a whole are quicker. Also, there is more tactics to employ in a doubles match. Instead of worrying about one opponent, you need to consider the opposing team as a whole.

The biggest difference between doubles and singles in my opinion is the communication. In singles, the matches are in total isolation, with no-one there on court to tell you if something is going wrong, or what to do to try and win the next point. In doubles, the teams rely on a lot of communication, both during and in-between points – least of all to express which part of the court each player should occupy.


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