10 More Tennis Terms

I should say I'm relying again on info found here.

1. ATP

Association of Tennis Professionals. The ATP are the governing body of the men's professional tennis circuit. (The women have the WTA).

2. Baseline Tennis

Lleyton Hewitt is the perfect example, as he is a Baseliner. It simply means that players remain on the baseline (at the rear of the court) during a rally. This method of trying to win points can be tiring, but a good Baseliner will either wear down an opponent or set them up for passing shot.

3. Double Fault

If the server fails to serve correctly on both 1st and 2nd serves this is called a Double Fault. The server then loses this point.

4. Foot Fault

Where the server puts his foot onto or over the Baseline before hitting the ball. If performed on a 1st serve, you will only have your 2nd serve remaining. If performed on your 2nd serve you lose the point.

5. Golden Set

A set of tennis which is won 6-0 without dropping a single point. Only one player in the history of professional tennis has ever achieved this, Bill Scanlon (USA). It was against Marcos Hocevar (Brazil) in the first round of the WCT Gold Coast Classic at Del Ray (Florida, USA) on 22 February 1983. Bill Scanlon won the match 6-2, 6-0.

6. Grand Slam

To win all 4 of major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open) in one season you are said to have won the Grand Slam. Therefore, the 4 major tournaments are also known as Grand Slam events.

7. Let (or Net)

Called to announce that a point is to be replayed. A common example is when a serve clips the top of the net but still lands correctly in the court.

8. Rubber

A term used in the Davis Cup, which essentially means a "heat" or a "leg". The Davis Cup consists of one Doubles Rubber and four Singles Rubbers. As an example, if you win the first Singles match, you have won a Rubber or a Singles Rubber.

9. Show Court (Showcourt)

A tennis court which is the one of the most prized of all to play on or to spectate on. For example, at Wimbledon the show courts are Centre Court, No.1 Court, and No.2 Court.

10. Tie break

This method is used to determine the winner of a Set once the score in Games is 6-6. See Rules Of Tennis (Brief) for full details. There is a Champions Tie Break variant that is sometimes used.

10 Tennis shot terms

I'm not watching Wimbledon but it's all around me. You've got to know the terminology.

 

1. Ace

A serve where the receiver fails to return or even touch the ball. The point is won by the server.

2. Approach Shot

Usually occurs when a ball is hit short of the baseline. The receiving player then moves forward to the ball and places it deep in his/her opponents court, while continue moving forward to the net in order to kill off the point with a volley.

3. Drive

A powerful shot using a bit of Topspin. Common as a passing shot down the line to leave your opponent scrambling for the ball.

4. Drop Shot

You need to use a lot of Backspin to perform this shot. It is a more severe version of a Slice, in that the idea is to get the ball just over the net and stop almost immediately just after the net without much bounce.

5. Ground Strokes

Any type of shot (Forehand and Backhand) across the net where the ball bounces.

6. Half-volley

To hit the tennis ball immediately after it has come off the ground, so you're hitting the ball on it's upward bounce.

7. Lob

To hit the ball over your opponents head using a lot of Topspin. Best played when your opponent is at the net.

8. Overhead Smash

A shot played above the head, hitting the ball downwards, hard and fast into your opponents side of the court

9. Passing Shot

A shot played down the line while your opponent is close to the net, but is unable to return.

10. Slice

You use Backspin to perform this type of shot. Often used as a defensive shot to return fast served ball deep into your opponents court and slow the game down. Similar in execution to the Drop Shot.

Welsh and Proud 4 Walter Clopton Wingfield

                                           Walter Clopton Wingfield

Walter Clopton Wingfield 1833-1912 Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Born            16 October 1833 in Ruabon, Denbighshire Died            1912 (aged 78) London Fields          Military, Leisure Known for  Inventing lawn tennis (disputed)

Great Tube Advert

I'm not a tennis fan but I am interested in popular culture and for Wimbledon fortnight the sponsor's HSBC have this brilliant ad on the tube. This version has been cropped so you can't see the Cliff Richard CD in the bottom left hand corner but most of the other references are observable if you click above. Do look out for Tim Henman. Let me know if you spot any really subtle ones. There should be more than ten! (If you count the Cliff Richard).

PS I can see the Cliff Richard CD after all - down on the right next to the Wimbledon mug!