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Glossary copyright of the ATP - more definitions to come...
Ace
A serve which the receiver fails to return or even touch. The
server wins the point immediately.
Advantage
The game point following deuce. If a player wins the
"advantage" point, he or she wins the game.
Approach
shot
A shot played with the aim of winning a point quickly, often hit
from mid-court deep into the corner of the opponent's court. The
attacking player normally goes to the net to intercept any return
with a volley.
Backhand
A ground stroke hit on the left of the body by right-handed
players, and on the right of the body by left-handers.
Backspin
Where the ball is hit in a way that makes it spin backwards
during flight. Also known as slice.
Baseline
The line at the end of the court.
Baseline
tennis
A tactical approach whereby players remain at the baseline and
attempt to wear their opponents down through long rallies, or -
should the opportunity arise - to win the point with a passing
shot.
Best of
three (or five)
Refers to the maximum number of sets in any match. In "best
of three" matches, players need to win two of the three
sets. In men's tennis, most matches are "best of
three," i.e. a match finishes when a player has won two
sets.
Big
point
A crucial point deciding which player wins a set or an important
game. For example, when the scores are level and the server is
30-40 down.
Break
(of service)
Where the serving player loses the game.
Bye
Free passage into the second round of a tournament. Players may
be given a bye if a tournament doesn't have enough players (e.g.
if there are only 28 players in a tournament designed for 32,
there will be 4 byes in the first round). Byes are always awarded
to seeded players.
Center
mark
A mark half-way across the baseline, effectively the extension of
the center line. When serving, players must remain on the correct
side of this mark.
Change
of ends
The players change ends of the court regularly during tennis
matches, e.g. after every "uneven" game (1,3,5) in a
set.
Chop
A backspin, defensive shot used to return fast services.
Occasionally also used for drop shots.
Clay
court
A court with a surface made of crushed shale, stone or brick.
There are two sorts of claycourts at ATP Tour events: red clay
(mostly Europe) -> slower; green clay (US and UK) ->
faster.
Continental
grip
Method of holding the racquet for playing powerful backhands,
serves, volleys and smashes. The most common grip for forehand
and backhand strokes.
Cross
shot
A stroke played diagonally across the court, either long or
short. Long cross shots are usually played from baseline to
baseline, while short cross shots generally bounce near the
opponent's service court line, often being played with topspin.
Deuce
The score in a game where both players have forty points.
Double
fault
A situation where the server has failed to serve correctly on
both attempts, i.e. the first and second serve. The server loses
the point.
Drive
A powerful stroke with slight topspin. Given its long, straight
trajectory it is well-suited as a passing shot or attempted
winner.
Drop
shot
A slice shot that stops very quickly and hardly bounces.
Eastern
grip
Forehand grip. Describes a grip which allows the ball to be hit
easily ahead of the body and the racquet swung all the way
through.
Exhibition
matches
Matches arranged outside competitions as a form of public
entertainment. Where players are rewarded with prize money, but
no rankings points.
Flat
serve
A flat service is hit without spin and follows a low, straight
trajectory. Given the high risk of hitting the net, it is
generally better-suited for first serves.
Follow-through
Where a player swings the racquet through in the direction of the
stroke, even after the ball has been played. The follow-through
affects the length, direction and speed of the ball.
Foot
fault
An error occurring when a player steps onto or over the baseline,
sideline or the center mark when serving. Foot faults also occur
if the player fails to serve from a static position.
Forecourt
The front part of the tennis court, the ideal position for
controlling a point, is between the net and the service line.
Forehand
A ground stroke played by left-handers to the left of the body,
and by right-handers to the right.
Game
Part of a set. Every set consists of at least six games.
Game
point
The point needed to win a game.
Ground
strokes
Any shot, whether forehand or backhand, played after the ball has
bounced.
Half
court
The section of the court close to the service line.
Half-volley
The racquet is lowered towards the ground and the ball played
back immediately after it has bounced.
Hard
court
A tennis court whose surface is made out of asphalt, concrete or
a similar material.
Kick
serve
A serve with heavy spin, causing it to change direction or bounce
unexpectedly when it lands in the service court. Also known as a
twist serve.
Let
An invalid point which has to be replayed. Occurs most frequently
when a serve touches the net but still lands in the correct
service court.
Lob
A lob is a ball hit in a high arc, usually over the opponent's
head. For the most part it is played when the opponent is
standing at the net.
Longline
A stroke played straight down the court, either along or adjacent
to one of the sidelines.
Love
Zero in tennis language, e.g. love-thirty = 0-30.
Lucky
Loser / Playback
In some knockout tournaments, one defeat does not automatically
result in elimination. Beaten players have the chance to play
against other such losers, with the winners being awarded places
in later rounds. These players are known as "lucky
losers."
Match
point
The score where a player only needs one more point to win the
match.
Mini-break
When the server loses the point during a tie-break, this is
referred to as a mini-break.
"Net"
or "Let"
The call from the net-cord judge when a serve touches the top of
the net.
Overhead
Describes a stroke played above the head, e.g. a smash.
Overrule
The umpire's option and privilege to correct a decision made by
one of the judges.
Passing
shot
A stroke that an opponent located close to the net is unable to
intercept.
Qualifying
competition
Tournament giving low-ranked players the opportunity to qualify
for the tournament proper.
Tie-break
Rule for deciding sets where the score has reached 6-6. During
tie-breaks players are awarded points numerically. The first
player with 7 points wins the set, provided he or she has a lead
of 2 points, e.g. 7-5. If not, play continues until this
two-point advantage lead has been established, e.g. 10-8. The
score for the set is then recorded as 7-6, i.e. seven games to
six.
Topspin
A stroke where the player hits the top surface of the ball,
causing it to rotate forwards.
Twist
serve
A service played with topspin and side spin. The ball bounces
awkwardly sideways and upwards from the service court.
Types
of court
Hard courts: Asphalt, concrete or tartan surfaces; cinder, sand-
or shale courts
Grass courts
Courts with a carpeted surface.
Umpire
The umpire decides which player has won a point and also keeps
the score. In major tournaments the umpire is assisted by a
number of judges (e.g. line judges).
Unforced
error
An error made while under no pressure from the opponent, e.g.
mishitting a ball.
Volley
A ball hit before it bounces.
Western
A way of holding the racket particularly for topspin forehand
strokes. In this grip the ball of the thumb rests on the top
right-hand edge of the handle.
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