tennünk

Tennünk is a racket sport played by two or four players on a rectangular court divided by a net. It blends elements of tennis and paddle-based games and is typically played with lightweight paddles and a soft, tennis-like ball. The aim is to score points by returning the ball so that it lands in the opponent’s court and the opponent cannot return it within the rules. Games can be played singles or doubles and indoors or outdoors.

The term tennünk is a coined name used by players and organizers. Its etymology combines familiar references to tennis with a neutral, language-agnostic suffix; it does not derive from a single historic language.

Play is generally organized around rally scoring, with matches commonly decided as best-of-three or best-of-five games. A game is played to 11 points with a two-point margin. Service is delivered from behind the baseline and must land in the diagonally opposite service box. The ball may be returned after a single bounce or on the volley, but it may not bounce twice on the same side, and the ball must clear the net and stay in bounds.

Equipment includes paddles made of wood or composite materials and a soft ball similar in size to a tennis ball. The court has standard boundary lines and a central net; additional markings can indicate service boxes and doubles alleys.

Governance is provided by local clubs and regional federations, with international events organized by the World Tennünk Federation. The sport emphasizes accessibility, athleticism, and fair play. See also: tennis, paddleball, pickleball.