A Dead Net, also known as a Dead Net Cord in tennis is when a tennis ball hits the top of the net during a point and then falls on either side – this renders it unplayable.
This often happens on a serve or during a rally. When a dead net happens, the point is replayed and no one loses the point.
How a Dead Net Happens
A dead net usually happens by accident when a player hits the ball too close to the net.The ball clips the very top of the net, often called the net cord or net tape, and loses all its speed and spin. Instead of going over the net, the ball just drops straight down on one side.
Dead nets can occur on any shot, but they are most common on serves and volleys since players have less control over the ball when serving or volleying, so it's easier to accidentally hit the net cord.
Replaying the Point
When a dead net happens, the point is not awarded to either player.Instead, the point is replayed from the beginning. This is because a dead net is considered a "Let", which is a situation where the point is stopped and restarted due to something outside the players' control.
If the dead net occurs on a serve, the server gets a first serve again, even if it was their second serve. If it happens during a rally, the whole point is replayed with the same player serving.
Video of Dead Net:
40 Times the Net Cord Got Involved in a Crazy Tennis Point! – [Dead Net][1]
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CAXkbdb5vY