double fault

noun

: two consecutive serving faults in tennis that result in the loss of a point
double-fault intransitive verb

Examples of double fault in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Serving at 5-6, Muchova began the game with a double fault and had to fight off four more match points to stay alive. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023 Sabalenka's third double fault ended the set. Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2022 Pliskova's serve had been looking imperious from the start, but a double fault when set point down at 30-40 surprisingly handed Sabalenka the opening set. Matias Grez, CNN, 8 July 2021 But Djokovic grabbed a break in the second of Tsitsipas’s service games on a double fault, after Tsitsipas went for too much in an effort to ward off a crushing Djokovic return. Gerald Marzorati, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2023 Garcia's sixth and final ace — and tournament-leading 14th — answered a double fault that gave Sakkari another break point. Schuyler Dixon, ajc, 7 Nov. 2022 Kasatkina handed Rogers several free passes in the first set, including a double fault that gave Rogers a 6-1 lead in the tiebreak. Kikue Higuchi, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Aug. 2022 Gauff lost her serve in a hurry in the opening game with a series of errors and one very edgy double fault. New York Times, 4 June 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double fault.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of double fault was circa 1909

Dictionary Entries Near double fault

Cite this Entry

“Double fault.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20fault. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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