Racket sport
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams♣️ of two players each (doubles).
Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber♣️ ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court.
The object of the game is to♣️ manoeuvre the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return.
The player who♣️ is unable to return the ball validly will not gain a point, while the opposite player will.[1][2]
Tennis is an Olympic♣️ sport and is played at all levels of society and at all ages.
The sport can be played by anyone who♣️ can hold a racket, including wheelchair users.
The original forms of tennis developed in France during the late Middle Ages.
[3] The♣️ modern form of tennis originated in Birmingham, England, in the late 19th century as lawn tennis.
[4] It had close connections♣️ both to various field (lawn) games such as croquet and bowls as well as to the older racket sport today♣️ called real tennis.[5]
The rules of modern tennis have changed little since the 1890s.
Two exceptions are that until 1961 the server♣️ had to keep one foot on the ground at all times,[6][7] and the adoption of the tiebreak in the 1970s.
[8]♣️ A recent addition to professional tennis has been the adoption of electronic review technology coupled with a point-challenge system, which♣️ allows a player to contest the line call of a point, a system known as Hawk-Eye.[9][10]
Tennis is played by millions♣️ of recreational players and is a popular worldwide spectator sport.
[11] The four Grand Slam tournaments (also referred to as the♣️ majors) are especially popular: the Australian Open, played on hardcourts; the French Open, played on red clay courts; Wimbledon, played♣️ on grass courts; and the US Open, also played on hardcourts.
[12]HistoryPredecessors
Painting from Cremona; end of the 16th century
Jeu de paume♣️ in the 17th century
Historians believe that the game's ancient origin lay in 12th-century northern France, where a ball was struck♣️ with the palm of the hand.
[13] Louis X of France was a keen player of jeu de paume ("game of♣️ the palm"), which evolved into real tennis, and became notable as the first person to construct indoor tennis courts in♣️ the modern style.
Louis was unhappy with playing tennis outdoors and accordingly had indoor, enclosed courts made in Paris "around the♣️ end of the 13th century".
[14] In due course this design spread across royal palaces all over Europe.
[14] In June 1316♣️ at Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, and following a particularly exhausting game, Louis drank a large quantity of cooled wine and subsequently died♣️ of either pneumonia or pleurisy, although there was also suspicion of poisoning.
[15] Because of the contemporary accounts of his death,♣️ Louis X is history's first tennis player known by name.
[15] Another of the early enthusiasts of the game was King♣️ Charles V of France, who had a court set up at the Louvre Palace.[16]
It was not until the 16th century♣️ that rackets came into use and the game began to be called "tennis", from the French term tenez, which can♣️ be translated as "hold!", "receive!" or "take!", an interjection used as a call from the server to his opponent.
[17] It♣️ was popular in England and France, although the game was only played indoors, where the ball could be hit off♣️ the wall.
Henry VIII of England was a big fan of this game, which is now known as real tennis.[18]
An epitaph♣️ in St Michael's Church, Coventry, written c.
1705, read, in part:[19]
Here lyes an old toss'd Tennis Ball:
Was racketted, from spring to♣️ fall,
With so much heat and so much hast,
Time's arm for shame grew tyred at last.
During the 18th and early 19th♣️ centuries, as real tennis declined, new racket sports emerged in England.[20]
The invention of the first lawn mower in Britain in♣️ 1830 is believed to have been a catalyst for the preparation of modern-style grass courts, sporting ovals, playing fields, pitches,♣️ greens, etc.
This in turn led to the codification of modern rules for many sports, including lawn tennis, most football codes,♣️ lawn bowls and others.[21]
Origins of the modern game
Augurio Perera's house in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, where he and Harry Gem first♣️ played the modern game of lawn tennis
Between 1859 and 1865 Harry Gem, a solicitor, and his friend Augurio Perera developed♣️ a game that combined elements of racquets and the Basque ball game pelota, which they played on Perera's croquet lawn♣️ in Birmingham, England.
[22][23] In 1872, along with two local doctors, they founded the world's first tennis club on Avenue Road,♣️ Leamington Spa.
[24] This is where "lawn tennis" was used as the name of an activity by a club for the♣️ first time.
In Tennis: A Cultural History, Heiner Gillmeister reveals that on 8 December 1874, British army officer Walter Clopton Wingfield♣️ wrote to Harry Gem, commenting that he (Wingfield) had been experimenting with his version of lawn tennis "for a year♣️ and a half".
[25] In December 1873, Wingfield designed and patented a game which he called sphairistikè (Greek: σφαιριστική, meaning "ball-playing"),♣️ and which was soon known simply as "sticky" – for the amusement of guests at a garden party on his♣️ friend's estate of Nantclwyd Hall, in Llanelidan, Wales.
[26] According to R.D.C.
Evans, turfgrass agronomist, "Sports historians all agree that [Wingfield] deserves♣️ much of the credit for the development of modern tennis.
"[20][27] According to Honor Godfrey, museum curator at Wimbledon, Wingfield "popularized♣️ this game enormously.
He produced a boxed set which included a net, poles, rackets, balls for playing the game – and♣️ most importantly you had his rules.
He was absolutely terrific at marketing and he sent his game all over the world.
He♣️ had very good connections with the clergy, the law profession, and the aristocracy and he sent thousands of sets out♣️ in the first year or so, in 1874.
"[28] The world's oldest annual tennis tournament took place at Leamington Lawn Tennis♣️ Club in Birmingham in 1874.
[29] This was three years before the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club would hold♣️ its first championships at Wimbledon, in 1877.
The first Championships culminated in a significant debate on how to standardise the rules.[28]
Lawn♣️ tennis in the US, 1887
In the United States in 1874, Mary Ewing Outerbridge, a young socialite, returned from Bermuda with♣️ a sphairistikè set.
She became fascinated by the game of tennis after watching British army officers play.
[30] She laid out a♣️ tennis court at the Staten Island Cricket Club at Camp Washington, Tompkinsville, Staten Island, New York.
The first American National championship♣️ was played there in September 1880.
An Englishman named O.E.
Woodhouse won the singles title, and a silver cup worth $100, by♣️ defeating Canadian I.F.Hellmuth.
[31] There was also a doubles match which was won by a local pair.
There were different rules at♣️ each club.
The ball in Boston was larger than the one normally used in New York.
On 21 May 1881, the oldest♣️ nationwide tennis organization in the world[32] was formed, the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (now the United States Tennis♣️ Association) in order to standardize the rules and organize competitions.
[33] The US National Men's Singles Championship, now the US Open,♣️ was first held in 1881 at the Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island.
[34] The US National Women's Singles Championships were first♣️ held in 1887 in Philadelphia.[35]
Tennis also became popular in France, where the French Championships date to 1891, although until 1925♣️ they were open only to tennis players who were members of French clubs.
[36] Thus, Wimbledon, the US Open, the French♣️ Open and the Australian Open (dating to 1905) became and have remained the most prestigious events in tennis.
[37][38] Together, these♣️ four events are called the Majors or Slams (a term borrowed from bridge rather than baseball).[39]
Lawn tennis in Canada, c.1900
In♣️ 1913, the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF), now the International Tennis Federation (ITF), was founded and established three official tournaments♣️ as the major championships of the day.
The World Grass Court Championships were awarded to Great Britain.
The World Hard Court Championships♣️ were awarded to France; the term "hard court" was used for clay courts at the time.
Some tournaments were held in♣️ Belgium instead.
And the World Covered Court Championships for indoor courts were awarded annually; Sweden, France, Great Britain, Denmark, Switzerland and♣️ Spain each hosted the tournament.
[40] At a meeting held on 16 March 1923 in Paris, the title "World Championship" was♣️ dropped and a new category of "Official Championship" was created for events in Great Britain, France, the US and Australia♣️ [41] – today's Grand Slam events.
[40][42] The impact on the four recipient nations to replace the "world championships" with "official♣️ championships" was simple in a general sense: each became a major nation of the federation with enhanced voting power, and♣️ each now operated a major event.[40]
The comprehensive rules promulgated in 1924 by the ILTF have remained largely stable in the♣️ ensuing 80 years, the one major change being the addition of the tiebreak system designed by Jimmy Van Alen.
[43] That♣️ same year, tennis withdrew from the Olympics after the 1924 Games, but returned 60 years later as a 21-and-under demonstration♣️ event in 1984.
This reinstatement was credited by the efforts of then ITF president Philippe Chatrier, ITF general secretary David Gray♣️ and ITF vice president Pablo Llorens, with support from International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
The success of the event♣️ was overwhelming, and the IOC decided to reintroduce tennis as a full-medal sport at Seoul in 1988.[44][45]
The Davis Cup, an♣️ annual competition between men's national teams, dates to 1900.
[46] The analogous competition for women's national teams, the Fed Cup, was♣️ founded as the Federation Cup in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ITF.[47]
In 1926, promoter♣️ C.C.
Pyle established the first professional tennis tour with a group of American and French tennis players playing exhibition matches to♣️ paying audiences.
[38][48] The most notable of these early professionals were the American Vinnie Richards and the Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen.
[38][49] Players♣️ turned pro, would no longer permitted to compete in the major (amateur) tournaments.[38]
In 1968, commercial pressures and rumours of some♣️ amateurs taking money under the table led to the abandonment of this distinction, inaugurating the Open Era, in which all♣️ players could compete in all tournaments, and top players were able to make their living from tennis.
[50] With the beginning♣️ of the Open Era, the establishment of an international professional tennis circuit, and revenues from the sale of television rights,♣️ tennis's popularity has spread worldwide, and the sport has shed its middle-class English-speaking image[51] (although it is acknowledged that this♣️ stereotype still exists).[51][52]
In 1954, Van Alen founded the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a nonprofit museum in Newport, Rhode Island.
[53]♣️ The building contains a large collection of tennis memorabilia as well as a hall of fame honouring prominent members and♣️ tennis players from all over the world.[54]Equipment
Part of the appeal of tennis stems from the simplicity of equipment required for♣️ play.
Beginners need only a racket and balls.[1]
Racket of Franjo Punčec in a wooden frame – late 1930sRacketsWooden racket – c.1920s
The♣️ components of a tennis racket include a handle, known as the grip, connected to a neck which joins a roughly♣️ elliptical frame that holds a matrix of tightly pulled strings.
For the first 100 years of the modern game, rackets were♣️ made of wood and of standard size, and strings were of animal gut.
Laminated wood construction yielded more strength in rackets♣️ used through most of the 20th century until first metal and then composites of carbon graphite, ceramics, and lighter metals♣️ such as titanium were introduced.
These stronger materials enabled the production of oversized rackets that yielded yet more power.
Meanwhile, technology led♣️ to the use of synthetic strings that match the feel of gut yet with added durability.
Under modern rules of tennis,♣️ the rackets must adhere to the following guidelines;[55]
The hitting area, composed of the strings, must be flat and generally uniform.
The♣️ frame of the hitting area may not be more than 29 inches (74 cm) in length and 12.
5 inches (32♣️ cm) in width.
The entire racket must be of a fixed shape, size, weight, and weight distribution.
There may not be any♣️ energy source built into the rackets.
The rackets must not provide any kind of communication, instruction or advice to the player♣️ during the match.
The rules regarding rackets have changed over time, as material and engineering advances have been made.
For example, the♣️ maximum length of the frame had been 32 inches (81 cm) until 1997, when it was shortened to 29 inches♣️ (74 cm).[56]
Many companies manufacture and distribute tennis rackets.
Wilson, Head and Babolat are three of the most commonly used brands; however,♣️ many more companies exist.
[57] The same companies sponsor players to use these rackets in the hopes that the company name♣️ will become better known by the public.
Strings
There are multiple types of tennis strings, including natural gut and synthetic stings made♣️ from materials such as nylon, kevlar, or polyester.[58]
Two different tennis strings of lengths 12m (left), and 200 m (right)Natural gut
The♣️ first type of tennis strings available were natural gut strings, introduced by Babolat.
They were the only type used until synthetic♣️ strings were introduced in the 1950s.
Natural gut strings are still used frequently by players such as Roger Federer.
They are made♣️ from cow intestines, and provide increased power, and are easier on the arm than most strings.[59]Synthetic
Most synthetic strings are made♣️ from monofilament or multifiliament nylon strings.
Monofilament strings are cheap to buy, and are used widely by many recreational level players♣️ for their all round performance, while multifilament strings are created to mimic natural gut more closely by weaving together fibres,♣️ but are generally more expensive than their monofilament counterparts.
[58] Polyester strings allow for more spin on the ball than any♣️ other string, due to their firm strings, while keeping control of the ball, and this is why many players use♣️ them, especially higher player ones.
[60] Kevlar tennis strings are highly durable, and are mostly used by players that frequently break♣️ strings, because they maintain tension well, but these strings can be stiff on the arm.[61]Hybrid strings
Hybrid stringing is when a♣️ tennis racket is strung with two different strings for the mains (the vertical strings) and the crosses (the horizontal strings).
This♣️ is most commonly done with two different strings that are made of different materials, but can also be done with♣️ two different types of the same string.
A notable example of a player using hybrid strings is Roger Federer, using natural♣️ gut strings in his mains and polyester strings in his crosses.[62]Balls
A tennis racket and balls.
Tennis balls were originally made of♣️ cloth strips stitched together with thread and stuffed with feathers.
[63] Modern tennis balls are made of hollow vulcanized rubber with♣️ a felt coating.
Traditionally white, the predominant colour was gradually changed to optic yellow in the latter part of the 20th♣️ century to allow for improved visibility.
Tennis balls must conform to certain criteria for size, weight, deformation, and bounce to be♣️ approved for regulation play.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) defines the official diameter as 65.41–68.58 mm (2.575–2.700 in).
Balls must weigh between♣️ 56.0 and 59.4 g (1.98 and 2.10 oz).
[64] Tennis balls were traditionally manufactured in the United States and Europe.
Although the♣️ process of producing the balls has remained virtually unchanged for the past 100 years, the majority of manufacturing now takes♣️ place in the Far East.
The relocation is due to cheaper labour costs and materials in the region.
[65] Tournaments that are♣️ played under the ITF Rules of Tennis must use balls that are approved by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and♣️ be named on the official ITF list of approved tennis balls.[66]Manner of play
The dimensions of a tennis courtCourt
Tennis is played♣️ on a rectangular, flat surface.
The court is 78 feet (23.
77 m) long, and 27 feet (8.
2 m) wide for singles♣️ matches and 36 ft (11 m) for doubles matches.
[67] Additional clear space around the court is required in order for♣️ players to reach overrun balls.
A net is stretched across the full width of the court, parallel with the baselines, dividing♣️ it into two equal ends.
It is held up by either a cord or metal cable of diameter no greater than♣️ 0.8 cm (1⁄3 in).
[66] The net is 3 feet 6 inches (1.
07 m) high at the posts and 3 feet♣️ (0.
91 m) high in the centre.
[67] The net posts are 3 feet (0.
91 m) outside the doubles court on each♣️ side or, for a singles net, 3 feet (0.
91 m) outside the singles court on each side.
The modern tennis court♣️ owes its design to Major Walter Clopton Wingfield.
In 1873, Wingfield patented a court much the same as the current one♣️ for his stické tennis (sphairistike).
This template was modified in 1875 to the court design that exists today, with markings similar♣️ to Wingfield's version, but with the hourglass shape of his court changed to a rectangle.[68]
Tennis is unusual in that it♣️ is played on a variety of surfaces.
[69] Grass, clay, and hard courts of concrete or asphalt topped with acrylic are♣️ the most common.
Occasionally carpet is used for indoor play, with hardwood flooring having been historically used.
Artificial turf courts can also♣️ be found.
Lines
The lines that delineate the width of the court are called the baseline (farthest back) and the service line♣️ (middle of the court).
The short mark in the centre of each baseline is referred to as either the hash mark♣️ or the centre mark.
The outermost lines that make up the length are called the doubles sidelines; they are the boundaries♣️ for doubles matches.
The lines to the inside of the doubles sidelines are the singles sidelines, and are the boundaries in♣️ singles play.
The area between a doubles sideline and the nearest singles sideline is called the doubles alley, playable in doubles♣️ play.
The line that runs across the centre of a player's side of the court is called the service line because♣️ the serve must be delivered into the area between the service line and the net on the receiving side.
Despite its♣️ name, this is not where a player legally stands when making a serve.[70]
The line dividing the service line in two♣️ is called the centre line or centre service line.
The boxes this centre line creates are called the service boxes; depending♣️ on a player's position, they have to hit the ball into one of these when serving.
[71] A ball is out♣️ only if none of it has hit the area inside the lines, or the line, upon its first bounce.
All lines♣️ are required to be between 1 and 2 inches (25 and 51 mm) in width, with the exception of the♣️ baseline which can be up to 4 inches (100 mm) wide, although in practice it is often the same width♣️ as the others.[70]
Play of a single point
Two players before a serve.
The players or teams start on opposite sides of the♣️ net.
One player is designated the server, and the opposing player is the receiver.
The choice to be server or receiver in♣️ the first game and the choice of ends is decided by a coin toss before the warm-up starts.
Service alternates game♣️ by game between the two players or teams.
For each point, the server starts behind the baseline, between the centre mark♣️ and the sideline.
The receiver may start anywhere on their side of the net.
When the receiver is ready, the server will♣️ serve, although the receiver must play to the pace of the server.
For a service to be legal, the ball must♣️ travel over the net without touching it into the diagonally opposite service box.
If the ball hits the net but lands♣️ in the service box, this is a let or net service, which is void, and the server retakes that serve.
The♣️ player can serve any number of let services in a point and they are always treated as voids and not♣️ as faults.
A fault is a serve that falls long or wide of the service box, or does not clear the♣️ net.
There is also a "foot fault" when a player's foot touches the baseline or an extension of the centre mark♣️ before the ball is hit.
If the second service, after a fault, is also a fault, the server double faults, and♣️ the receiver wins the point.
However, if the serve is in, it is considered a legal service.
A legal service starts a♣️ rally, in which the players alternate hitting the ball across the net.
A legal return consists of a player hitting the♣️ ball so that it falls in the server's court, before it has bounced twice or hit any fixtures except the♣️ net.
A player or team cannot hit the ball twice in a row.
The ball must travel over or round the net♣️ into the other players' court.
A ball that hits the net during a rally is considered a legal return as long♣️ as it crosses into the opposite side of the court.
The first player or team to fail to make a legal♣️ return loses the point.
The server then moves to the other side of the service line at the start of a♣️ new point.[72]Scoring
"Break point" redirects here.
For the software term, see BreakpointGame, set, match
The scoreboard of a tennis match.
Game
A game consists of♣️ a sequence of points played with the same player serving.
A game is won by the first player to have won♣️ at least four points in total and at least two points more than the opponent.
The running score of each game♣️ is described in a manner peculiar to tennis: scores from zero to three points are described as "love", "15", "30",♣️ and "40", respectively.
If at least three points have been scored by each player, making the player's scores equal at 40♣️ apiece, the score is not called out as "40–40", but rather as "deuce".
If at least three points have been scored♣️ by each side and a player has one more point than his opponent, the score of the game is "advantage"♣️ for the player in the lead.
During informal games, advantage can also be called "ad in" or "van in" when the♣️ serving player is ahead, and "ad out" or "van out" when the receiving player is ahead; alternatively, either player may♣️ simply call out "my ad" or "your ad".
The score of a tennis game during play is always read with the♣️ serving player's score first.
In tournament play, the chair umpire calls the point count (e.g.
, "15–love") after each point.
At the end♣️ of a game, the chair umpire also announces the winner of the game and the overall score.[73]Set
A set consists of♣️ a sequence of games played with service alternating between games, ending when the count of games won meets certain criteria.
Typically,♣️ a player wins a set by winning at least six games and at least two games more than the opponent.
If♣️ one player has won six games and the opponent five, an additional game is played.
If the leading player wins that♣️ game, the player wins the set 7–5.
If the trailing player wins the game (tying the set 6–6) a tiebreak is♣️ played.
A tiebreak, played under a separate set of rules, allows one player to win one more game and thus the♣️ set, to give a final set score of 7–6.
A tiebreak game can be won by scoring at least seven points♣️ and at least two points more than the opponent.
In a tiebreak, two players serve by 'ABBA' system which has been♣️ proven to be fair.
[74] If a tiebreak is not played, the set is referred to as an advantage set, where♣️ the set continues without limit until one player leads by a two-game margin.
A "love set" means that the loser of♣️ the set won zero games, colloquially termed a "jam donut" in the US.
[75] In tournament play, the chair umpire announces♣️ the winner of the set and the overall score.
The final score in sets is always read with the winning player's♣️ score first, e.g.
"6–2, 4–6, 6–0, 7–5".
Match
A match consists of a sequence of sets.
The outcome is determined through a best of♣️ three or five sets system.
On the professional circuit, men play best-of-five-set matches at all four Grand Slam tournaments, Davis Cup,♣️ and the final of the Olympic Games and best-of-three-set matches at all other tournaments, while women play best-of-three-set matches at♣️ all tournaments.
The first player to win two sets in a best-of-three, or three sets in a best-of-five, wins the match.
[76]♣️ Only in the final sets of matches at the Olympic Games and Fed Cup are tiebreaks not played.
In these cases,♣️ sets are played indefinitely until one player has a two-game lead, occasionally leading to some remarkably long matches.
In tournament play,♣️ the chair umpire announces the end of the match with the well-known phrase "Game, set, match" followed by the winning♣️ person's or team's name.
Special point termsGame point
A game point occurs in tennis whenever the player who is in the lead♣️ in the game needs only one more point to win the game.
The terminology is extended to sets (set point), matches♣️ (match point), and even championships (championship point).
For example, if the player who is serving has a score of 40–love, the♣️ player has a triple game point (triple set point, etc.
) as the player has three consecutive chances to win the♣️ game.
Game points, set points, and match points are not part of official scoring and are not announced by the chair♣️ umpire in tournament play.
Break point
A break point occurs if the receiver, not the server, has a chance to win the♣️ game with the next point.
Break points are of particular importance because serving is generally considered advantageous, with servers being expected♣️ to win games in which they are serving.
A receiver who has one (score of 30–40 or advantage), two (score of♣️ 15–40) or three (score of love–40) consecutive chances to win the game has break point, double break point or triple♣️ break point, respectively.
If the receiver does, in fact, win their break point, the game is awarded to the receiver, and♣️ the receiver is said to have converted their break point.
If the receiver fails to win their break point it is♣️ called a failure to convert.
Winning break points, and thus the game, is also referred to as breaking serve, as the♣️ receiver has disrupted, or broken the natural advantage of the server.
If in the following game the previous server also wins♣️ a break point it is referred to as breaking back.
Except where tiebreaks apply, at least one break of serve is♣️ required to win a set (otherwise a two-game lead would never occur).
Rule variationsNo ad
From 'No advantage'.
Scoring method created by Jimmy♣️ Van Alen.
The first player or doubles team to win four points wins the game, regardless of whether the player or♣️ team is ahead by two points.
When the game score reaches three points each, the receiver chooses which side of the♣️ court (advantage court or deuce court) the service is to be delivered on the seventh and game-deciding point.
Utilized by World♣️ Team Tennis professional competition, ATP tours, WTA tours, ITF Pro Doubles and ITF Junior Doubles.[77][78]Pro set
Instead of playing multiple sets,♣️ players may play one pro set.
A pro set is first to 8 (or 10) games by a margin of two♣️ games, instead of first to 6 games.
A 12-point tiebreak is usually played when the score is 8–8 (or 10–10).
These are♣️ often played with no-ad scoring.
Match tiebreak
This is sometimes played instead of a third set.
A match tiebreak (also called super tiebreak)♣️ is played like a regular tiebreak, but the winner must win ten points instead of seven.
Match tiebreaks are used in♣️ the Hopman Cup, Grand Slams (excluding Wimbledon) and the Olympic Games for mixed doubles; on the ATP (since 2006), WTA♣️ (since 2007) and ITF (excluding four Grand Slam tournaments and the Davis Cup) tours for doubles and as a player's♣️ choice in USTA league play.
Fast4
Fast4 is a shortened format that offers a "fast" alternative, with four points, four games and♣️ four rules: there are no advantage scores, lets are played, tiebreakers apply at three games all, with it being first♣️ to five points with a "sudden death" point at four points all, and the first to four games wins the♣️ set.
In the event of a no advantage deuce, the receiver gets to choose the service side.
If a let occurs, the♣️ point continues as normal, and the non-receiver (in a doubles game) is permitted to return the serve.
When players swap sides,♣️ they are not permitted to sit down and must be ready to play within sixty seconds.
Between sets, players are permitted♣️ to sit down, and must be ready to play within ninety seconds.[79][80]
Another, however informal, tennis format is called Canadian doubles.
This♣️ involves three players, with one person playing against a doubles team.
The single player gets to utilize the alleys normally reserved♣️ only for a doubles team.
Conversely, the doubles team does not use the alleys when executing a shot.
The scoring is the♣️ same as for a regular game.
This format is not sanctioned by any official body.
"Australian doubles", another informal and unsanctioned form♣️ of tennis, is played with similar rules to the Canadian doubles style, only in this version, players rotate court position♣️ after each game, each player taking a turn at playing alone against the other two.
As such, each player plays doubles♣️ and singles over the course of a match, with the singles player always serving.
Scoring styles vary, but one popular method♣️ is to assign a value of 2 points to each game, with the server taking both points if he or♣️ she holds serve and the doubles team each taking one if they break serve.
Wheelchair tennis can be played by able-bodied♣️ players as well as people who require a wheelchair for mobility.
An extra bounce is permitted.
This rule makes it possible to♣️ have mixed wheelchair and able-bodied matches.
It is possible for a doubles team to consist of a wheelchair player and an♣️ able-bodied player (referred to as "one-up, one-down"), or for a wheelchair player to play against an able-bodied player.
In such cases,♣️ the extra bounce is permitted for the wheelchair users only.
Match play
Convention dictates that the two players shake hands at the♣️ end of a match.
Continuity
A tennis match is intended to be continuous.
[81] Because stamina is a relevant factor, arbitrary delays are♣️ not permitted.
In most cases, service is required to occur no more than 20 seconds after the end of the previous♣️ point.
[81] This is increased to 90 seconds when the players change ends (after every odd-numbered game), and a 2-minute break♣️ is permitted between sets.
[81] Other than this, breaks are permitted only when forced by events beyond the players' control, such♣️ as rain, damaged footwear, damaged racket, or the need to retrieve an errant ball.
Should a player be deemed to be♣️ stalling repeatedly, the chair umpire may initially give a warning followed by subsequent penalties of "point", "game", and default of♣️ the match for the player who is consistently taking longer than the allowed time limit.[82]
In the event of a rain♣️ delay, darkness or other external conditions halting play, the match is resumed at a later time, with the same score♣️ as at the time of the delay, and each player at the same end of the court as when rain♣️ halted play, or as close to the same relative compass point if play is resumed on a different court.
Ball changes
Balls♣️ wear out quickly in serious play and, therefore, in ATP and WTA tournaments, they are changed after every nine games♣️ with the first change occurring after only seven games, because the first set of balls is also used for the♣️ pre-match warm-up.
[64] In ITF tournaments like Fed Cup, the balls are changed after every eleven games (rather than nine) with♣️ the first change occurring after only nine games (instead of seven).
An exception is that a ball change may not take♣️ place at the beginning of a tiebreaker, in which case the ball change is delayed until the beginning of the♣️ second game of the next set.
[66] As a courtesy to the receiver, the server will often signal to the receiver♣️ before the first serve of the game in which new balls are used as a reminder that they are using♣️ new balls.
Continuity of the balls' condition is considered part of the game, so if a re-warm-up is required after an♣️ extended break in play (usually due to rain), then the re-warm-up is done using a separate set of balls, and♣️ use of the match balls is resumed only when play resumes.
On-court coaching
A recent rule change is to allow coaching on♣️ court on a limited basis during a match.
[83][84][85][86] This has been introduced in women's tennis for WTA Tour events in♣️ 2009 and allows the player to request her coach once per set.[87]Stance
Stance refers to the way a player prepares themselves♣️ in order to best be able to return a shot.
Essentially, it enables them to move quickly in order to achieve♣️ a particular stroke.
There are four main stances in modern tennis: open, semi-open, closed, and neutral.
All four stances involve the player♣️ crouching in some manner: as well as being a more efficient striking posture, it allows them to isometrically preload their♣️ muscles in order to play the stroke more dynamically.
What stance is selected is strongly influenced by shot selection.
A player may♣️ quickly alter their stance depending on the circumstances and the type of shot they intend to play.
Any given stance also♣️ alters dramatically based upon the actual playing of the shot with dynamic movements and shifts of body weight occurring.[88][89]Open stance
This♣️ is the most common stance in tennis.
The player's feet are placed parallel to the net.
They may be pointing sideways, directly♣️ at the net or diagonally towards it.
This stance allows for a high degree of torso rotation which can add significant♣️ power to the stroke.
This process is sometimes likened to the coiling and uncoiling of a spring.i.e.
the torso is rotated as♣️ a means of preloading the muscular system in preparation for playing the stroke: this is the coiling phase.
When the stroke♣️ is played the torso rotates to face forwards again, called uncoiling, and adds significant power to the stroke.
A disadvantage of♣️ this stance is that it does not always allow 'for proper weight transfer and maintenance of balance'[88] when making powerful♣️ strokes.
It is commonly used for forehand strokes; double-handed backhands can also be made effectively from it.
Semi-open stance
This stance is somewhere♣️ between open and closed and is a very flexible stance.
The feet are aligned diagonally towards the net.
It allows for a♣️ lot of shoulder rotation and the torso can be coiled, before being uncoiled into the shot in order to increase♣️ the power of the shot.
It is commonly used in modern tennis especially by 'top professional players on the forehand'.
[90] Two-handed♣️ backhands can also be employed from this stance.
Closed stance
The closed stance is the least commonly used of the three main♣️ stances.
One foot is placed further towards the net with the other foot further from it; there is a diagonal alignment♣️ between the feet.
It allows for effective torso rotation in order to increase the power of the shot.
It is usually used♣️ to play backhand shots and it is rare to see forehand shots played from it.
A stroke from this stance may♣️ entail the rear foot coming completely off the floor with bodyweight being transferred entirely to the front foot.
[88] [89]Neutral stance
This♣️ is sometimes also referred to as the square stance.
One foot is positioned closer to the net and ahead of the♣️ other which is behind and in line with it.
Both feet are aligned at a 90 degree angle to the net.
The♣️ neutral stance is often taught early because 'It allows beginners to learn about shifting weight and rotation of the body.
'[89]♣️ Forehands and backhands may be made from it.[91]Shots
A competent tennis player has eight basic shots in his or her repertoire:♣️ the serve, forehand, backhand, volley, half-volley, overhead smash, drop shot, and lob.
Grip
A grip is a way of holding the racket♣️ in order to hit shots during a match.
The grip affects the angle of the racket face when it hits the♣️ ball and influences the pace, spin, and placement of the shot.
Players use various grips during play, including the Continental (The♣️ "Handshake Grip"), Eastern (Can be either semi-eastern or full eastern.
Usually used for backhands.
), and Western (semi-western or full western, usually♣️ for forehand grips) grips.
Most players change grips during a match depending on what shot they are hitting; for example, slice♣️ shots and serves call for a Continental grip.[92]Serve
Roger Federer in a serve motion.
A serve (or, more formally, a "service") in♣️ tennis is a shot to start a point.
The serve is initiated by tossing the ball into the air and hitting♣️ it (usually near the apex of its trajectory) into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net.
The serve may♣️ be hit under- or overhand although underhand serving remains a rarity.
[93] If the ball hits the net on the first♣️ serve and bounces over into the correct diagonal box then it is called a "let" and the server gets two♣️ more additional serves to get it in.
There can also be a let if the server serves the ball and the♣️ receiver isn't prepared.
[66] If the server misses his or her first serve and gets a let on the second serve,♣️ then they get one more try to get the serve in the box.
Experienced players strive to master the conventional overhand♣️ serve to maximize its power and placement.
The server may employ different types of serve including flat serve, topspin serve, slice♣️ serve, and kick (American twist) serve.
A reverse type of spin serve is hit in a manner that spins the ball♣️ opposite the natural spin of the server, the spin direction depending upon right- or left-handedness.
If the ball is spinning counterclockwise,♣️ it will curve right from the hitter's point of view and curve left if spinning clockwise.[94]
Some servers are content to♣️ use the serve simply to initiate the point; however, advanced players often try to hit a winning shot with their♣️ serve.
A winning serve that is not touched by the opponent is called an "ace".
Forehand
For a right-handed player, the forehand is♣️ a stroke that begins on the right side of the body, continues across the body as contact is made with♣️ the ball, and ends on the left side of the body.
There are various grips for executing the forehand, and their♣️ popularity has fluctuated over the years.
The most important ones are the continental, the eastern, the semi-western, and the western.
For a♣️ number of years, the small, frail 1920s player Bill Johnston was considered by many to have had the best forehand♣️ of all time, a stroke that he hit shoulder-high using a western grip.
Few top players used the western grip after♣️ the 1920s, but in the latter part of the 20th century, as shot-making techniques and equipment changed radically, the western♣️ forehand made a strong comeback and is now used by many modern players.
No matter which grip is used, most forehands♣️ are generally executed with one hand holding the racket, but there have been fine players with two-handed forehands.
In the 1940s♣️ and 50s, the Ecuadorian/American player Pancho Segura used a two-handed forehand to achieve a devastating effect against larger, more powerful♣️ players.
Players such as Monica Seles or France's Fabrice Santoro and Marion Bartoli are also notable players known for their two-handed♣️ forehands.[95]Backhand
Novak Djokovic in a two-handed backhand motion.
For right-handed players, the backhand is a stroke that begins on the left side♣️ of their body, continues across their body as contact is made with the ball, and ends on the right side♣️ of their body.
It can be executed with either one hand or with both and is generally considered more difficult to♣️ master than the forehand.
For most of the 20th century, the backhand was performed with one hand, using either an eastern♣️ or a continental grip.
The first notable players to use two hands were the 1930s Australians Vivian McGrath and John Bromwich,♣️ but they were lone exceptions.
The two-handed grip gained popularity in the 1970s as Björn Borg, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, and♣️ later Mats Wilander and Marat Safin used it to great effect, and it is now used by a large number♣️ of the world's best players, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.[96]
Two hands give the player more control, while♣️ one hand can generate a slice shot, applying backspin on the ball to produce a low trajectory bounce.
Reach is also♣️ limited with the two-handed shot.
The player long considered to have had the best backhand of all time, Don Budge, had♣️ a powerful one-handed stroke in the 1930s and 1940s that imparted topspin onto the ball.
Ken Rosewall, another player noted for♣️ his one-handed backhand, used a very accurate slice backhand through the 1950s and 1960s.
A small number of players, notably Monica♣️ Seles, use two hands on both the backhand and forehand sides.
Other shots
A volley is a shot returned to the opponent♣️ in mid-air before the ball bounces, generally performed near the net, and is usually made with a stiff-wristed punching motion♣️ to hit the ball into an open area of the opponent's court.
The half volley is made by hitting the ball♣️ on the rise just after it has bounced, also generally in the vicinity of the net, and played with the♣️ racket close to the ground.
[97] The swinging volley is hit out of the air as the player approaches the net.
It♣️ is an offensive shot used to take preparation time away from the opponent, as it returns the ball into the♣️ opponent's court much faster than a standard volley.
From a poor defensive position on the baseline, the lob can be used♣️ as either an offensive or defensive weapon, hitting the ball high and deep into the opponent's court to either enable♣️ the lobber to get into better defensive position or to win the point outright by hitting it over the opponent's♣️ head.
If the lob is not hit deeply enough into the other court, however, an opponent near the net may then♣️ hit an overhead smash, a hard, serve-like shot, to try to end the point.
A difficult shot in tennis is the♣️ return of an attempted lob over the backhand side of a player.
When the contact point is higher than the reach♣️ of a two-handed backhand, most players will try to execute a high slice (under the ball or sideways).
Fewer players attempt♣️ the backhand sky-hook or smash.
Rarely, a player will go for a high topspin backhand, while themselves in the air.
A successful♣️ execution of any of these alternatives requires balance and timing, with less margin of error than the lower contact point♣️ backhands, since this shot is a break in the regular pattern of play.
If their opponent is deep in their court,♣️ a player may suddenly employ an unexpected drop shot, by softly tapping the ball just over the net so that♣️ the opponent is unable to run in fast enough to retrieve it.
Advanced players will often apply back spin to a♣️ drop shot, causing the ball to "skid" upon landing and bounce sideways, with less forward momentum toward their opponent, or♣️ even backwards towards the net, thus making it even more difficult to return.
Tournaments
Tournaments are often organized by gender and number♣️ of players.
Common tournament configurations include men's singles, women's singles, and doubles, where two players play on each side of the♣️ net.
Tournaments may be organized for specific age groups, with upper age limits for youth and lower age limits for senior♣️ players.
Example of this include the Orange Bowl and Les Petits As junior tournaments.
There are also tournaments for players with disabilities,♣️ such as wheelchair tennis and deaf tennis.
[98] In the four Grand Slam tournaments, the singles draws are limited to 128♣️ players for each gender.
Most large tournaments seed players, but players may also be matched by their skill level.
According to how♣️ well a person does in sanctioned play, a player is given a rating that is adjusted periodically to maintain competitive♣️ matches.
For example, the United States Tennis Association administers the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP), which rates players between 1.0 and♣️ 7.
0 in 1/2 point increments.
Average club players under this system would rate 3.0–4.
5 while world class players would be 7.0♣️ on this scale.
Grand Slam tournaments
A tennis match at Centre Court of Wimbledon in 2007.
The four Grand Slam tournaments are considered♣️ to be the most prestigious tennis events in the world.
They are held annually and comprise, in chronological order, the Australian♣️ Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Apart from the Olympic Games, Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and Hopman Cup,♣️ they are the only tournaments regulated by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
[99] The ITF's national associations, Tennis Australia (Australian Open),♣️ the Fédération Française de Tennis (French Open), the Lawn Tennis Association (Wimbledon) and the United States Tennis Association (US Open)♣️ are delegated the responsibility to organize these events.[99]
Aside from the historical significance of these events, they also carry larger prize♣️ funds than any other tour event and are worth double the number of ranking points to the champion than in♣️ the next echelon of tournaments, the ATP Masters 1000 (men) and Premier events (women).
[100][101] Another distinguishing feature is the number♣️ of players in the singles draw.
There are 128, more than any other professional tennis tournament.
This draw is composed of 32♣️ seeded players, other players ranked in the world's top 100, qualifiers, and players who receive invitations through wild cards.
Grand Slam♣️ men's tournaments have best-of-five set matches while the women play best-of-three.
Grand Slam tournaments are among the small number of events♣️ that last two weeks, the others being the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Masters.
Currently, the Grand Slam tournaments are♣️ the only tour events that have mixed doubles contests.
Grand Slam tournaments are held in conjunction with wheelchair tennis tournaments and♣️ junior tennis competitions.
These tournaments also contain their own idiosyncrasies.
For example, players at Wimbledon are required to wear predominantly white.
Andre Agassi♣️ chose to skip Wimbledon from 1988 through 1990 citing the event's traditionalism, particularly its "predominantly white" dress code.
[102] Wimbledon has♣️ its own particular methods for disseminating tickets, often leading tennis fans to follow complex procedures to obtain tickets.[103]
The French became♣️ an international tournament in 1925.
Men's tournament structureMasters Series
The ATP Masters 1000 is a group of nine tournaments that form the♣️ second-highest echelon in men's tennis.
Each event is held annually, and a win at one of these events is worth 1000♣️ ranking points.
When the ATP, led by Hamilton Jordan, began running the men's tour in 1990, the directors designated the top♣️ nine tournaments, outside of the Grand Slam events, as "Super 9" events.
[104] In 2000 this became the Tennis Masters Series♣️ and in 2004 the ATP Masters Series.
In November at the end of the tennis year, the world's top eight players♣️ compete in the ATP Finals, a tournament with a rotating locale.
It is currently held in London.[105]
In August 2007 the ATP♣️ announced major changes to the tour that were introduced in 2009.
The Masters Series was renamed to the "ATP Masters 1000",♣️ the addition of the number 1000 referring to the number of ranking points earned by the winner of each tournament.
Contrary♣️ to earlier plans, the number of tournaments was not reduced from nine to eight and the Monte-Carlo Masters remains part♣️ of the series although, unlike the other events, it does not have a mandatory player commitment.
The Hamburg Masters has been♣️ downgraded to a 500-point event.
The Madrid Masters moved to May and onto clay courts, and a new tournament in Shanghai♣️ took over Madrid's former indoor October slot.
As of 2011 six of the nine "1000" level tournaments are combined ATP and♣️ WTA events.
[106]500 and 250 series
The third and fourth tier of men's tennis tournaments are formed by the ATP 500 series,♣️ consisting of 11 tournaments, and the ATP 250 series with 40 tournaments.
[107] Like the ATP Masters 1000, these events offer♣️ various amounts of prize money and the numbers refer to the number of ranking points earned by the winner of♣️ a tournament.
[100] The Dubai Tennis Championships offer the largest financial incentive to players, with total prize money of US$2,313,975 (2012).
[108]♣️ These series have various draws of 28, 32, 48 and 56 for singles and 16 and 24 for doubles.
It is♣️ mandatory for leading players to enter at least four 500 events, including at least one after the US Open.
Challenger Tour♣️ and Futures tournaments
The Challenger Tour for men is the lowest level of tournament administered by the ATP.
It is composed of♣️ about 150 events and, as a result, features a more diverse range of countries hosting events.
[109] The majority of players♣️ use the Challenger Series at the beginning of their career to work their way up the rankings.
Andre Agassi, between winning♣️ Grand Slam tournaments, plummeted to World No.
141 and used Challenger Series events for match experience and to progress back up♣️ the rankings.
[110] The Challenger Series offers prize funds of between US$25,000 and US$150,000.
Below the Challenger Tour are the Futures tournaments,♣️ events on the ITF Men's Circuit.
These tournaments also contribute towards a player's ATP rankings points.
Futures Tournaments offer prize funds of♣️ between US$10,000 and US$15,000.
[111] Approximately 530 Futures Tournaments are played each year.
Women's tournament structure
In 2021, the WTA rebranded, resembling the♣️ men's tournament series, and also providing extra simplicity for fans and consumers.
The numbers do not indicate ranking points, or prize♣️ money, but is a system to help define different levels of women's tennis.
WTA 1000
The WTA 1000 Tournaments (formerly the Premier♣️ Mandatory and Premier 5 Tournaments), are a series of seven tournaments that are part of the second-highest tier in women's♣️ tennis.
[112][113]500 and 250 Series
The third and fourth tier of women's tennis tournaments are formed from the WTA 500 Series (formerly♣️ Premier 700), with fifteen tournaments, and the WTA 250 Series (formerly International), consisting of thirty tournaments.[112][114]WTA 125
The WTA 125 Series♣️ (formerly 125K Series), is the lowest tier of women's tennis, with fourteen tournaments.[114]Players
Professional players
Professional tennis players enjoy the same relative♣️ perks as most top sports personalities: clothing, equipment and endorsements.
Like players of other individual sports such as golf, they are♣️ not salaried, but must play and finish highly in tournaments to obtain prize money.
In recent years, professional tennis players have♣️ been mocked by tabloids and fans for the involuntary or deliberate noise caused by players' grunting.
This controversy has spurred the♣️ Grand Slam Committee, the International Tennis Association, and the Women's Tennis Association to teach players techniques to avoid grunting.[115]
Singles and♣️ doubles professional careers
McEnroe with Fleming playing as a doubles team at Wimbledon in the 1980s.
While players are gradually less competitive♣️ in singles by their late 20s and early 30s, they can still continue competitively in doubles (as instanced by Martina♣️ Navratilova and John McEnroe, who won doubles titles in their 40s).
In the Open Era, several female players such as Martina♣️ Navratilova, Margaret Court, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams (the latter two sisters playing together) have been prolific at♣️ both singles and doubles events throughout their careers.
John McEnroe is one of the very few professional male players to be♣️ top ranked in both singles and doubles at the same time,[116][117][118] and Yevgeny Kafelnikov is the most recent male player♣️ to win multiple Grand Slams in both singles and doubles during the same period of his career.
In terms of public♣️ attention and earnings (see below), singles champions have far surpassed their doubles counterparts.
The Open Era, particularly the men's side, has♣️ seen many top-ranked singles players that only sparingly compete in doubles, while having "doubles specialists" who are typically being eliminated♣️ early in the singles draw but do well in the doubles portion of a tournament.
Notable doubles pairings include The Woodies♣️ (Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde) and the Bryan brothers (identical twin brothers Robert Charles "Bob" Bryan and Michael Carl "Mike"♣️ Bryan).
Woodbridge has disliked the term "doubles 'specialists'", saying that he and Woodforde "set a singles schedule and doubles fitted in♣️ around that", although later in Woodbridge's career he focused exclusively on doubles as his singles ranking fell too low that♣️ it was no longer financially viable to recover at that age.
Woodbridge noted that while top singles players earn enough that♣️ they do not need to nor want to play doubles, he suggested that lower-ranked singles players outside the Top Ten♣️ should play doubles to earn more playing time and money.[119][120]Olympics
The Olympics doubles tennis tournament necessitates that both members of a♣️ doubles pairing be from the same country, hence several top professional pairs such as Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares cannot♣️ compete in the Olympics.
Top-ranked singles players that are usually rivals on the professional circuit, such as Boris Becker and Michael♣️ Stich, and Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka have formed a rare doubles partnership for the Olympics.
Unlike professional tennis tournaments (see♣️ below) where singles players receive much more prize money than doubles players, an Olympic medal for both singles and doubles♣️ has similar prestige.
The Olympics is more of a priority for doubles champions while singles champions often skip the tournament.
[119][120] While♣️ the ATP has voted for Olympic results to count towards player ranking points, WTA players voted against it.[121]
For the 2000♣️ Olympics, Lisa Raymond was passed over for Team USA in favour of Serena Williams by captain Billie Jean King, even♣️ though Raymond was the top-ranked doubles player in the world at the time, and Raymond unsuccessfully challenged the selection.[121]Prize money
In♣️ professional tennis tournaments such as Wimbledon, the singles competition receives the most prize money and coverage, followed by doubles, and♣️ then mixed doubles usually receive the lowest monetary awards.
[122] For instance in the US Open as of 2018, the men's♣️ and women's singles prize money (US$40,912,000) accounts for 80.
9 percent of total player base compensation, while men's and women's doubles♣️ (US$6,140,840), men's and women's singles qualifying (US$3,008,000), and mixed doubles (US$505,000) account for 12.1 percent, 5.9 percent, and 1.
0 percent,♣️ respectively.
The singles winner receives US$3,800,000, while the doubles winning pair receives $700,000 and the mixed doubles winning pair receives US$155,000.[123]
Grand♣️ Slam tournament winners
The following players have won at least five singles titles at Grand Slam tournaments (active players in bold):
Greatest♣️ male players
A frequent topic of discussion among tennis fans and commentators is who was the greatest male singles player of♣️ all time.
By a large margin, an Associated Press poll in 1950 named Bill Tilden as the greatest player of the♣️ first half of the 20th century.
[124] From 1920 to 1930, Tilden won singles titles at Wimbledon three times and the♣️ US Championships seven times.
In 1938, however, Donald Budge became the first person to win all four major singles titles during♣️ the same calendar year, the Grand Slam, and won six consecutive major titles in 1937 and 1938.
Tilden called Budge "the♣️ finest player 365 days a year that ever lived.
"[125] In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer said that, based on consistent♣️ play, Budge was the greatest player ever.
[126] Some observers, however, also felt that Kramer deserved consideration for the title.
Kramer was♣️ among the few who dominated amateur and professional tennis during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Tony Trabert has said that♣️ of the players he saw before the start of the Open Era, Kramer was the best male champion.[127]
By the 1960s,♣️ Budge and others had added Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad to the list of contenders.
Budge reportedly believed that Gonzales was♣️ the greatest player ever.
[128] Gonzales said about Hoad, "When Lew's game was at its peak nobody could touch him....
I think♣️ his game was the best game ever.Better than mine.
He was capable of making more shots than anybody.
His two volleys were♣️ great.
His overhead was enormous.
He had the most natural tennis mind with the most natural tennis physique."[129]
Before and during the Open♣️ Era, Rod Laver remains the only male player in history to have won the calendar year Grand Slam twice in♣️ 1962 and 1969 [130] and also the calendar year Professional Grand Slam in 1967.[131]
Jimmy Connors, Björn Borg, and John McEnroe♣️ had a fierce rivalry in the late 1970s and early 1980s that propelled "the men's game to new heights of♣️ popularity".
[132] Connors had a long and prolific career and holds the Open Era men's singles records of 109 titles including♣️ eight Grand Slams, 1,557 matches played, and 1,274 match wins.
Borg was regarded by his contemporaries as among the greatest ever,♣️ having a calm court demeanor and unrivalled physical conditioning, winning six French Opens and five straight Wimbledon titles, retiring at♣️ age 26 when he was still in his prime.
McEnroe attained the No.
1 ranking in both singles and doubles, finishing his♣️ career with 77 singles and 78 doubles titles; this remains the highest men's combined total of the Open Era.[133]
The Agassi–Sampras♣️ rivalry showcased the two best players in the 1990s.
[134] Sampras had a precise and powerful serve while Agassi was considered♣️ to be one of the best service returners in the history of the game.
[135][136][137] By the early 2000s, Pete Sampras♣️ had won a then-record of 14 Grand Slam titles which was by far the most among his contemporaries, as the♣️ second-most major titles won at the time by another player was Agassi with eight.
Sampras also held the record for most♣️ weeks at No.
1 with 286 until it was broken a decade later by Federer and Djokovic after that.
Andre Agassi, was♣️ the first player to complete the Career Grand Slam on all modern three surfaces (hard, grass, and clay courts) as♣️ previous winners of Grand Slam tournaments played in an era of grass and clay only (Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall♣️ also won major Pro tournaments on the three surfaces).
Agassi also is the only player to win all four Grand Slam♣️ titles along with the year-end championships and the olympics.
Both Sampras and Agassi are regarded to be among the greatest players♣️ of all time.[135][138][139]
By the early twenty-first century, the 'Big Three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have dominated♣️ men's singles tennis for nearly two decades,[140][141] collectively winning 65 major singles tournaments; Djokovic with an all-time record 23 titles,♣️ Nadal with 22 and Federer with 20.
They have been ranked as world No.
1s in singles for a total 908 weeks♣️ (equivalent to 17 years); Djokovic for a record 389 weeks, Federer for 310, and Nadal for 209.
Greatest female players
As with♣️ the men there are frequent discussions about who is the greatest female singles player of all time with Steffi Graf,♣️ Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams being the three players most often nominated.
In March 2012 the Tennis Channel published a combined♣️ list of the 100 greatest men and women tennis players of all time.
[142] It ranked Steffi Graf as the greatest♣️ female player (in 3rd place overall), followed by Martina Navratilova (4th place) and Margaret Court (8th place).
The rankings were determined♣️ by an international panel.
Sportswriter John Wertheim of Sports Illustrated stated in an article in July 2010 that Serena Williams is♣️ the greatest female tennis player ever with the argument that "Head-to-head, on a neutral surface (i.e.
hard courts), everyone at their♣️ best, I can't help feeling that she crushes the other legends.".
[143] In a reaction to this article Yahoo sports blog♣️ Busted Racket published a list of the top-10 women's tennis players of all time placing Martina Navratilova in first spot.
[144]♣️ This top-10 list was similar to the one published in June 2008 by the Bleacher Report who also ranked Martina♣️ Navratilova as the top female player of all time.[145]
Steffi Graf is considered by some to be the greatest female player.
Billie♣️ Jean King said in 1999, "Steffi is definitely the greatest women's tennis player of all time.
"[146] Martina Navratilova has included♣️ Graf on her list of great players.
[146] In December 1999, Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the♣️ 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press.
[147] Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book The♣️ Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century, named her as the best female player of the 20th century, directly followed♣️ by Martina Navratilova.[148]
Tennis magazine selected Martina Navratilova as the greatest female tennis player for the years 1965 through 2005.
[149][150] Tennis♣️ historian and journalist Bud Collins has called Navratilova "arguably, the greatest player of all time.
"[151] Billie Jean King said about♣️ Navratilova in 2006, "She's the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived."[152]In 2018, a Tennis.
com panel selected♣️ Serena Williams as the greatest female tennis player in the Open Era.
[153] In May 2020, the Tennis Channel ranked Williams♣️ as the greatest female tennis player of all time.[154]
In November 2018, Tennis.
com polled its readers to choose the greatest women's♣️ tennis player of all time and Graf came in first.
[155] In July 2020, The Guardian polled its readers to determine♣️ the greatest female tennis player of the past 50 years, and Graf was the clear favorite, picking up nearly twice♣️ as many votes as any other player.[156]Officials
An umpire informing two players of the rules.
In most professional play and some amateur♣️ competition, there is an officiating head judge or chair umpire (usually referred to simply as the umpire), who sits in♣️ a raised chair to one side of the court.
The umpire has absolute authority to make factual determinations.
The umpire may be♣️ assisted by line judges, who determine whether the ball has landed within the required part of the court and who♣️ also call foot faults.
There also may be a net judge who determines whether the ball has touched the net during♣️ service.
The umpire has the right to overrule a line judge or a net judge if the umpire is sure that♣️ a clear mistake has been made.[157]
In past tournaments, line judges tasked with calling the serve were sometimes assisted by electronic♣️ sensors that beeped to indicate an out-of-bounds serve; one such system was called "Cyclops".
[158] Cyclops has since largely been replaced♣️ by the Hawk-Eye system.
[159][160] In professional tournaments using this system, players are allowed three unsuccessful appeals per set, plus one♣️ additional appeal in the tiebreak to challenge close line calls by means of an electronic review.
The US Open, Miami Masters,♣️ US Open Series, and World Team Tennis started using this challenge system in 2006 and the Australian Open and Wimbledon♣️ introduced the system in 2007.
[161] In clay-court matches, such as at the French Open, a call may be questioned by♣️ reference to the mark left by the ball's impact on the court surface.
The referee, who is usually located off the♣️ court, is the final authority about tennis rules.
When called to the court by a player or team captain, the referee♣️ may overrule the umpire's decision if the tennis rules were violated (question of law) but may not change the umpire's♣️ decision on a question of fact.
If, however, the referee is on the court during play, the referee may overrule the♣️ umpire's decision.
(This would only happen in Davis Cup or Fed Cup matches, not at the World Group level, when a♣️ chair umpire from a non-neutral country is in the chair.)[157]Junior tennis
In tennis, a junior is a player under 18 who♣️ is still legally protected by a parent or guardian.
Players on the main adult tour who are under 18 must have♣️ documents signed by a parent or guardian.
These players, however, are still eligible to play in junior tournaments.
The International Tennis Federation♣️ (ITF) conducts a junior tour that allows juniors to establish a world ranking and an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)♣️ or Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking.
Most juniors who enter the international circuit do so by progressing through ITF, Satellite, Future,♣️ and Challenger tournaments before entering the main circuit.
The latter three circuits also have adults competing in them.
Some juniors, however, such♣️ as Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Frenchman Gaël Monfils, have catapulted directly from the junior tour to the ATP tour by♣️ dominating the junior scene or by taking advantage of opportunities given to them to participate in professional tournaments.
In 2004, the♣️ ITF implemented a new rankings scheme to encourage greater participation in doubles, by combining two rankings (singles and doubles) into♣️ one combined tally.
[162] Junior tournaments do not offer prize money except for the Grand Slam tournaments, which are the most♣️ prestigious junior events.
Juniors may earn income from tennis by participating in the Future, Satellite, or Challenger tours.
Tournaments are broken up♣️ into different tiers offering different amounts of ranking points, culminating with Grade A.
Leading juniors are allowed to participate for their♣️ nation in the Junior Fed Cup and Davis Cup competitions.
To succeed in tennis often means having to begin playing at♣️ a young age.
To facilitate and nurture a junior's growth in tennis, almost all tennis playing nations have developed a junior♣️ development system.
Juniors develop their play through a range of tournaments on all surfaces, accommodating all different standards of play.
Talented juniors♣️ may also receive sponsorships from governing bodies or private institutions.
Injuries
Muscle strain is one of the most common injuries in tennis.
[163]♣️ When an isolated large-energy appears during the muscle contraction and at the same time body weight apply huge amount of♣️ pressure to the lengthened muscle, muscle strain can occur.
[164] Inflammation and bleeding are triggered when muscle strain occurs, which can♣️ result in redness, pain and swelling.
[164] Overuse is also common in tennis players of all levels.
Muscle, cartilage, nerves, bursae, ligaments♣️ and tendons may be damaged from overuse.
The repetitive use of a particular muscle without time for repair and recovery is♣️ the most common cause of injury.
[164]In popular cultureSee alsoReferencesFurther readingBarrett, John.
Wimbledon: The Official History of the Championships (HarperCollins, 2001) ISBN♣️ 978-0-00-711707-9
(HarperCollins, 2001) ISBN 978-0-00-711707-9 Collins, Bud.
History of Tennis – An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book (New Chapter Press, 2010) ISBN♣️ 978-0-942257-70-0
(New Chapter Press, 2010) ISBN 978-0-942257-70-0 Danzig, Allison and Peter Schwed (ed.).
The Fireside Book of Tennis (Simon & Schuster, 1972)♣️ ISBN 978-0-671-21128-8
(Simon & Schuster, 1972) ISBN 978-0-671-21128-8 Doherty, Reginald Frank.R.F.and H.L.
Doherty – On Lawn Tennis (Kessinger Publishing, 2010) ISBN 978-1-167-08589-5
(Kessinger♣️ Publishing, 2010) ISBN 978-1-167-08589-5 Dwight, Eleanor.
Tie Breaker – Jimmy Van Alen and Tennis in the 20th century (Scala Books, 2010)♣️ ISBN 978-1-905377-40-4
(Scala Books, 2010) ISBN 978-1-905377-40-4 Gillmeister, Heiner.
Tennis: A Cultural History (Continuum, 1998) ISBN 978-0-7185-0195-2
(Continuum, 1998) ISBN 978-0-7185-0195-2 Grimsley, Will.
Tennis♣️ – Its History, People and Events (Prentice-Hall, 1971) ISBN 0-13-903377-7
(Prentice-Hall, 1971) ISBN 0-13-903377-7 King, Billie Jean and Starr, Cynthia.
We Have♣️ Come a Long Way (McGraw-Hill, 1998) ISBN 0-07-034625-9
(McGraw-Hill, 1998) ISBN 0-07-034625-9 Whitman, Malcolm D.
Tennis – Origins and Mysteries (Dover Publications,♣️ 2004) ISBN 0-486-43357-9
